On May 11, local time, the government of the Russian Federation approved the list of legal entities that impose retaliatory sanctions on 31 energy companies. These companies are all related to Gazprom (gazprom), most of which are former subsidiaries. The list of government orders and sanctions signed by Russian Prime Minister Mishustin was published on the official portal of the Russian government legal information on the same day.
Screenshot of the document published on the official portal of the Russian government legal information
On May 3, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a presidential decree in response to unfriendly behavior by foreign countries with economic measures. The Presidential Decree requires the Federal Government to establish a list of sanctioned organizations and individuals within 10 days (by May 13). In the case of entities included in the sanctions list, the Decree prohibits Russian government agencies, legal entities and citizens from entering into any agreement, including foreign trade, with them, to fulfil their obligations in concluded transactions, or to carry out financial transactions in favour of these entities, and the vessels of sanctioned entities are also prohibited from entering Russian ports. However, the Russian Ministry of Finance has the right to grant temporary permits for certain operations of sanctioned entities.
The sanctions list includes 31 companies from European countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, as well as the United States and Singapore. Most of these are former gazprom subsidiaries associated with Germany's Gazprom Germania and Gazprom Marketing & Trading Ltd., as well as traders and operators of underground gas storage facilities. In addition, the sanctions are also affected by the joint venture between Poland and Gazprom, EuRoPol GAZ SA, which is the owner of the Polish section of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline.
Since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Germany, Britain, France, Poland and other countries have intended to forcibly take over Gazprom's subsidiaries outside Russia. On March 31, local time, Gazprom Group announced that it would stop participating in Gazprom Germania and all its shares. On April 5, German Economy Minister Habeck announced that Gazprom Germania GmbH would be under the custody of Germany's energy regulator until September 30.
Gazprom Germania is an international conglomerate that, through its subsidiary Gazprom Marketing & Trading, trades natural gas in the UK spot market and sells liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Southeast Asia, TASS reported. In central Asian countries, the countries of the former Soviet Union, as well as Austria, Italy and Serbia, the group trades gas through its subsidiary Gazprom Schweiz AG. Its operations in Germany are mainly carried out through Wingas, while in the Czech Republic and Slovakia it is run by Vemex Gazprom Germania.
Gazprom Germania is also the operator of several large gas storage facilities in Germany and has several projects in Serbia, Austria and the Czech Republic.
Attached sanctions list:
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