Polish daily report on blocked dividend payout to Gazprom causes ripples
PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk
26.09.2016 10:32
The Gazeta Polska Codziennie daily has said its report that Polish gas giant PGNiG has blocked the payment of USD 200 mln in dividends to Russia's Gazprom has caused a stir in Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Witwicki A/Gazeta Polska
The daily reported last week that the money would have been spent on the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, a German-Russian project which is to circumvent Poland and other countries in the region.
The Polish daily noted that its story had also been picked up by European and US news agencies and websites, and by Russian news agency TASS.
Some publications attacked the United States, accusing it of tactics aimed against Russia.
Gazeta Polska Codziennie cited Russian media as saying that the United States is actively playing the security card in a battle for the European gas market with Gazprom and that PGNiG blocking the payment of dividends is part of such a strategy.
Gazeta Polska Codziennie said that comments on the Neftegaz.ru website included: "Poland has found another way to counter the construction of Nord Stream 2"; and: "The decision to freeze dividends is considered by Poland as its second major victory in the fight against the construction of Nord Stream 2."
An agreement with Gazprom to build the pipeline was signed by German companies BASF and E.ON, Austria's OMV, British-Dutch Shell and French Engi.
The Visegrad Group, which comprises Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, has asked the European Commission to probe the planned pipeline.
(pk)
Source: Gazeta Polska Codziennie