Decrees on 'Russification' of ownership, sales of two Gazprom JVs do not mean Russia has begun confiscating assets of investors from unfriendly countries - Peskov

MOSCOW. Dec 20 (Interfax) - The decrees issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin that require establishing LLCs to which all rights, assets and obligations of Gazprom's joint ventures with Germany's Wintershall Dea and Austria's OMV are transferred, do not mean that Russia has begun the process of confiscating the assets of investors from unfriendly countries, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"No, Russia has not started the process of confiscating the assets of investors from unfriendly countries. There is no confiscation," Peskov said when answering the relevant question.

In his words, "Those companies exiting the market either sell or transfer the assets; it all depends on negotiations."

"However, there was not and is not a process to confiscate assets," Peskov concluded.

It was reported earlier that Putin had signed decrees according to which LLCs were created and to which all rights, assets and obligations of Gazprom's joint ventures with Wintershall Dea and OMV - Severneftegazprom (developing the Yuzhno-Russkoye field), as well as Achimgaz and Achim Development (sections of deep horizons of the Urengoy field), respectively would be transferred.

It is assumed that SOGAZ will become co-owner of a stake in Severneftegazprom, and Gas Technologies LLC will become co-owner of the capital of Achimgaz and Achim Development.