UPDATE2: Ukraine starts to enforce $2.6 bln repayment by Gazprom

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MOSCOW/KIEV, May 30 (PRIME) -- Kiev has started a process to enforced repayment of U.S. $2.6 billion by Russian gas giant Gazprom under an earlier Stockholm court ruling, Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko said at a meeting with CEO of state energy holding Naftogaz Ukrainy Andrei Kobolev on Wednesday.

“A process of enforcement of a $2.6 billion payment by Gazprom has become real, encumbrance of the shares and other assets of Gazprom in countries of Europe, in particular in Switzerland, the U.K., the Netherlands, has started today,” Poroshenko said.

Kiev’s actions will not be limited to these three counties and every effort must be made in order to ensure the recovery of the entire sum, he added.

A source said earlier in the day that court bailiffs have visited the office of Nord Stream in Switzerland. “(The bailiffs) have visited the office but have not arrested anything,” the source said, adding that the issue is about assets of both companies Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2.

Nord Stream operates Russia’s existing Nord Stream gas pipeline and Nord Stream 2 operates the project of construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline.

The Stockholm arbitration court ruled earlier in 2018 that Gazprom must pay Naftogaz Ukrainy $2.56 billion for non-shipment of gas. Gazprom said that the decision led to an imbalance in relations of the companies and requested termination of gas transit and delivery contracts with Ukraine.

Gazprom has issued a statement and confirmed Kiev’s attempts to recover the sum in Switzerland. “Gazprom has received no official notifications in the framework of this procedure so detailed comments can be provided only after a thorough study of the documents when they officially arrive at Gazprom.”

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the Kremlin has no information on arrest of Gazprom’s stakes in Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2. “No, frankly speaking, we are unaware; this is an arbitration issue so I cannot tell you anything.”

Nord Stream's Swiss office declined to comment on the bailiffs' visit.

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