Gazprom "Penalty Imposed by Polish Government Unfair... Will Appeal"

Poland Imposes Fine on Gazprom for Refusing to Provide Nord Stream 2 Information
Gazprom: "Cannot Provide Information Unrelated to Antitrust Regulation"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom has announced it will appeal against the fine imposed by the Polish government. Earlier, the Polish government fined Gazprom for refusing to provide information related to the 'Nord Stream 2' gas pipeline project between Russia and Germany. The fine, issued around the time of Poland's defense agreement with the United States, is expected to further escalate diplomatic tensions between Poland and Russia.

According to Russian TASS news agency on the 3rd (local time), Gazprom stated it will appeal to the court against the $57 million (approximately 6.8 billion KRW) fine imposed by Poland's antitrust regulator, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK), claiming it is unjust. The previous day, UOKiK announced the fine due to Gazprom's refusal to provide information requested by Polish authorities regarding Nord Stream 2. Gazprom argued, "The information requested by Poland's antitrust regulator is unrelated to antitrust issues," and added, "Gazprom requested the Polish authorities to provide a legal basis for the information request but received no response."

The information requested by UOKiK from Gazprom reportedly concerned contracts with European companies financing the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The Polish government has been investigating European companies involved in Nord Stream 2 for conducting financial transactions related to the project without Poland's consent.

Previously, the Polish government, together with the U.S. government, criticized Nord Stream 2, claiming it threatens Europe's energy security. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki criticized, "Nord Stream 2 is Russia's hybrid weapon aimed at the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)." The U.S. government announced sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 project and on officials from both Germany and Russia, which led to opposition from the German government.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that the defense agreement between the U.S. and Poland has been finalized. The number of U.S. troops rotationally deployed to Poland will increase by 1,000, from the current 4,500 to 5,500. Amid close diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Poland, the Polish government's imposition of fines on Gazprom is expected to further deteriorate relations between Poland and Russia.