The consideration of a claim lodged by Ukraine`s Anti-monopoly Committee (AMC) with Kyiv`s Economic Court for recovering UAH 172 billion, or $6.6 billion, from Russia`s gas giant Gazprom, has been rescheduled from November 21 to December 5, according to the AMC`s press service.
”We know that court hearings have been slated for December 5,” the press service said. However, its representative declined to comment on the causes behind the rescheduling of the court`s sitting.
”We`re sorry we`ve got much work to do,” the press service said.
The sum includes UAH 85.966 billion (about $3.3 billion) in a fine charged by the AMC after determining that Gazprom had abused its monopoly position in transiting gas through Ukraine, and penalty worth another half of the sum for the failure to pay the fine on time.
Ukraine`s anti-trust agency on January 25, 2016, decided to fine Gazprom, but the Russian gas producer argues that the regulator has no authority on the gas transit market.
On April 12, 2016, Gazprom lodged its claim with Kyiv`s economic court to rule null and void the AMC`s decision. But the Kyiv court declined to consider Gazprom`s case.
As the fine had not been paid, the AMC filed a claim with the city`s economic court for forced recovery of the UAH 86 billion and the penalty, insisting on recognizing the defendant`s liability to end the violation of the anti-monopoly law.
The AMC`s claim against Gazprom was originally scheduled to be considered on October 31, later the court`s sitting was rescheduled for a later date.
