Poland fines Russia’s Gazprom to please US: Moscow

Russia has denounced Poland’s “unprecedented” move in imposing a hefty fine on the country’s energy giant Gazprom, describing Warsaw’s decision as a move to please the United States, which is upset over the firm’s construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that would take Russia’s gas to Germany.

Poland’s anti-monopoly watchdog UOKiK ordered Gazprom to pay some $7.61 billion for building the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which it says would dominate the Polish market.

The project, which plans to connect Russia and Germany via the Baltic Sea, would bypass Poland and Ukraine.

This has concerned Warsaw and Washington, who believe the pipeline would increase Europe's reliance on Russian energy supplies and that Moscow could later use the project for exerting political pressure.

A spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Poland’s decision to fine Gazprom was driven by an intention to “implement the idea of setting up a gas hub for re-sale of American gas to eastern European countries,” in order “to please Washington.”

He also said the fine undermined European energy security.

Gazprom vows to appeal against ruling

In a reaction to the fine, Gazprom said it has not violated Polish anti-monopoly regulations, vowing to appeal the "unprecedented" ruling.

“The UOKiK ruling breaches the principles of legality, proportionality and just trial, while the unprecedented size of the fine is a testament to the desire to oppose the Nord Stream 2 project’s implementation by any means,” Gazprom said.

German energy firm, Uniper, which provides half of the funding for Nord Stream 2, also disagreed with the fine order, saying it was considering an appeal.

A final ruling, according to Uniper, could take up to four to five years and any fines would only be payable then.

SS