Gazprom, the state-controlled Russian gas giant, is moving to take control of the board of Russia’s most famous independent radio station, Echo of Moscow. This comes as many fear tough times ahead for press freedom following the election of Vladimir Putin. Douglas Herbert meets Sergey Buntman, Echo of Moscow deputy editor, who explains why he has no plans to change his editorial stance.
Russia’s natural gas monopoly Gazprom announced Thursday it is resuming its gas supplies to Belarus now that it has settled its $200 million debt in full. Belarus is now demanding that Russia pay a $260 million debt for transit of gas to the West.
Belarus said it has paid its debt to Russia's Gazprom and threatened to halt transit of Russian gas to Europe if the energy giant did not pay $260 million in transit fees, the latest salvo in a row over rising Russian gas prices.
Russia has cuts its supply of gas to Belarus by 60 percent, Gazprom chief executive Alexei Miller said Wednesday, as a dispute over payments between Moscow and Minsk enters its third day.
Gazprom has started reducing its gas supply to Belarus after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev demanded action be taken in a payment dispute. The Russian gas giant claims Belarus owes 155 million euros in unpaid bills.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made an impromptu offer Friday to merge gas powerhouse Gazprom with Ukraine's state energy company Naftogaz. Ukraine's opposition labeled the proposal an attempt to rob the country of its independence.
Ukraine on Saturday said there was no truth to claims by Russian gas giant Gazprom that Ukraine would not be able to pay its energy bill for the month.
Gazprom Neft, the oil subsidiary of the world's biggest gas company, has increased its stake in Sibir Energy by taking over one of the shareholders of the company, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market.
Russia's energy giant Gazprom finalised a one-billion-dollar deal with Namibian energy company Namcor to build a new power plant in the African country. The power plant would generate energy for both Namibia and South Africa.
Russia energy giant Gazprom has asked Belarus to pay 166 million euros for gas delivered between January and April. The dispute comes at a moment when diplomatic relations between Moscow and Minsk are tense.
