Support The Moscow Times!

Swiss Suspect Gazprom Managers of Corruption

Managers of Russia's Gazprom may face corruption charges in Switzerland.

ZURICH — Managers of Russia's state-controlled natural gas exporter Gazprom may face corruption charges in Switzerland, the Swiss federal prosecutor's office said, confirming a Swiss media report.

Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger on Monday said two Gazprom managers — one of them still working, the other retired — and two other individuals may face charges related to alleged bribes paid between 2004 and 2006 in connection with the construction of the Yamal gas pipeline that connects Siberia to Germany.

"The federal prosecutor is conducting an investigation against four individuals suspected of misappropriation, forgery of documents, money laundering and bribery of foreign government officials," the prosecutor's office said in an emailed statement on Monday night in response to an enquiry about Gazprom.

"Last preparations for bringing charges are under way," the office said.

Gazprom did not immediately reply to a written request for a comment.

Last November, the Swiss federal prosecutor's office closed an investigation into Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery, or SIT, a subsidiary of Germany's Siemens, after SIT admitted inadequate enforcement of compliance regulations in relation to Yamal gas pipeline projects and paid 125,000 Swiss francs ($135,000) in reparation as well as $10.6 million in compensation to the Swiss state for unlawfully obtained profits.

The prosecutor's office said in a statement at the time that bribes had been paid by SIT to senior executives of "Russia's largest natural gas production company" between 2004 and 2006 via Swiss bank accounts in relation to contracts awarded to SIT for the supply of gas turbines during the construction of the pipeline.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more