Gazprom, the Russian natural gas giant, has refuted the European Commission's accusation over the company's alleged breach of EU's antitrust laws by abusing its dominant market position on Wednesday.
The commission accused state-owned Gazprom for charging 'unfair prices in certain EC member states,' and has accused the company of breaking the EU's antitrust laws. The charge is raising tension between Russia and the EU.
'Gazprom considers the claims brought by the European Commission to be unsubstantiated,' the statement read on its website.
'Gazprom strictly adheres to all the rules of international law and legislation in the countries where the Gazprom group operates,' the statement added.
Gazprom is allowed to respond to the allegations within 12 weeks, or otherwise, it could lead the company to be compelled to pay a fine as high as 10 percent of the company's annual sales.
The company stressed the European Commission's 'statement of objections' does not mean a guilty verdict and it is only 'one of the stages of the antitrust investigation.'
by Furkan Naci Top
Anadolu Agency
furkan.top@aa.com.tr