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RBC quoted Arthur Zurabyan in the article “Opal has fallen into disgrace”

–11.09.2019

Artur Zurabyan, the head of the Dispute Resolution and Mediation Practice and International Arbitration Practice at ART DE LEX, commented on the decision of the European Court of Justice in favor of Poland in a dispute with Gazprom over the Opal gas pipeline, an overland branch of Nord Stream that has a capacity of 55 billion cubic meters per year and runs from Russia to Germany along the bottom of the Baltic Sea.

Artur Zurabyan, the head of the Dispute Resolution Practice of ART DE LEX, told RBC that the decision of the European Court of Justice comes into force immediately, but within two months, it may be challenged in the Court of Justice (and for the time it takes to consider the complaint, the decision will be suspended). He said that the European Commission, Gazprom, or any other company may file the complaint if they prove that the court decision directly affects them. He added that, “if the court’s decision is not contested and comes into force, it may affect Gazprom’s contracts with European gas consumers receiving fuel through Opal.”

Mr. Zurabyan noted that, in the event that the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union comes into force, the most negative scenario is that Russia will be bound to transit gas through Ukraine and will not be able to supply gas through alternative routes.

Artur Zurabyan

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