Lawmaker slams allegations that Russia manipulates gas market as unfounded – Russian Politics and Diplomacy

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MOSCOW, January 19. /TASS/. Western officials must stop speculating about the energy crisis, trying to shift the blame to Russia, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma (the lower house of parliament) Leonid Slutsky wrote on Telegram .

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted during a visit to Germany that NATO was divided on the Nord Stream 2 issue, quoting International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol , who said Russian gas giant Gazprom was manipulating gas prices in the European Union. “In fact, Mr. Stoltenberg and a number of EU officials who seek to transfer responsibilities should stop their manipulations,” Slutsky stressed.

The lawmaker pointed out that all allegations that Russia is manipulating the gas market are completely unfounded. According to him, “Gazprom officials said earlier that they were ready to supply additional volumes of gas based on current long-term contracts.”

“Overall, Russia is still fulfilling its obligations, while Europe continues to try to politicize Nord Stream 2,” Slutsky said. According to him, several factors are at the origin of the energy crisis in Europe, among which “a growing demand for gas in Asia and a decreasing share of wind energy production”.

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