"Gazprom" announced a fundamental disagreement with the decision of the Polish regulator on a fine of $ 7.6 billion. The company will appeal the decision of the regulator, since it did not violate the antimonopoly legislation of Poland, said in "Gazprom".

"The decision of UOKiK violates the principles of legality, proportionality and fair trial," the company said.

In addition, Gazprom notes that the amount of the fine due to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline indicates a desire to oppose the project by any means.

The Kremlin also expressed confidence that Gazprom will take legal counteraction to the decision on the fine.

Answering the relevant question from journalists, the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov called to study the information on penalties from the Polish side.

“Of course, the information is quite new and needs to be analyzed from a legal point of view.

I have no doubt that everything that can and should be done in terms of providing some kind of counter-actions will be done by the corporation, ”said the Kremlin spokesman.

Peskov was asked a clarifying question about how Poland's decision might affect Russian-Polish relations.

“Unfortunately, one can hardly call Russian-Polish relations flourishing.

It can hardly be assumed that something will have a negative impact.

In general, relations are not at the proper level, unfortunately, ”added Peskov.

  • Gazprom building in Moscow

  • Reuters

  • © Maxim Shemetov

Recall that on October 7 it became known about the decision of the Polish Office for the Protection of Competition and Consumers (UOKiK) to fine Gazprom and the five European companies cooperating with it on the construction of Nord Stream 2.

The regulator requires these companies to terminate the partnership agreement.

As the head of the department, Tomasz Khrustny, explained, Gazprom was fined 29 billion zlotys ($ 7.6 billion), and five other companies - a total fine of 385 million zlotys ($ 100 million).

Khrustny noted that within 30 days after receiving the decision, the firms participating in the project must terminate the construction contract.

He added that companies can challenge the regulator's decision.

As a reminder, Nord Stream 2 is two strings of a gas pipeline with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters per year and a length of over 1200 km, which pass through the exclusive economic zones and territorial waters of five countries - Russia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Germany.

The State Duma announced the activity of forces that represent US interests in Europe.

The United States has previously repeatedly opposed the construction of Nord Stream 2.

According to Washington, the project "threatens the energy independence" of Europe.

“There are forces in Europe that, due to their closeness to the United States and their desire to continue to strengthen cooperation with Washington, are ready to fulfill the role of a representative of US interests in the European political field.

And in this sense, the Polish gentlemen stand out very much, "said Dmitry Novikov, first deputy chairman of the State Duma's international affairs committee, in an interview with RT.

The MP called the UOKiK decision “a quite expected step”.

“Until the gas pipeline is put into operation, attempts to disrupt its construction will continue.

And even when it starts working, the desire to restrict gas pumping by any means will remain, ”he added.

As a reminder, in August UOKiK fined Gazprom for “unwillingness to cooperate” in the investigation of the Nord Stream 2 project.

The amount of the recovery was PLN 213 million (about $ 57 million).

From the statement of the regulator it followed that the claims concerned the proceedings regarding the creation of a consortium financing the construction of Nord Stream 2, "without the necessary consent of the president of UOKiK."

The regulator claims that it turned to Gazprom for documents, but the company refused to provide information.

UOKiK said in a statement that the requested documents were mainly related to agreements on the transfer, distribution, sale, supply and storage of gaseous fuels.

Igor Yushkov, a leading analyst at the National Energy Security Fund, noted that Poland has traditionally opposed both the first Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2.

“I think the Poles are just trying to make Gazprom nervous and create a certain toxicity to Nord Stream 2 so that the participants can get out of it themselves.

The goal is to create a certain halo of scandalousness, undesirability, "the expert suggested in an interview with RT.