Kupriyanov: Gazprom does not leave Belarus

OAO Gazprom does not leave Belarus and will implement its obligations to build an office center in Minsk.

Spokesman for OAO Gazprom Sergei Kupriyanov said it in an interview to the ONT TV Channel.

“The number of issues recently addressed to us have created a false impression of what the Gazprom representation does in Minsk. Someone makes conclusions that we are quitting Belarus but that it not true,” Sergei Kupriyanov said. In his words, the Russian company came to Minsk long ago, even before Beltransgaz made part of Gazprom. “Today it is our subsidiary named Gazprom Transgaz Belarus and all business functions are concentrated there. There is no need in keeping a representative office any longer,” Sergei Kupriyanov said. Speaking about Gazprom's commitments to build an office center and a road junction in Minsk, Sergei Kupriyanov noted that they will be fully implemented. “Our long-term strategic plans in Belarus will stay intact. It will not affect our agreements to build a big office center in Minsk,” he said.

The information was also confirmed by Minsk Mayor Andrei Shorets. “I do not draw parallels and do not link the closure of Gazprom's representative office and our joint work. We will have both a road junction and a office center,” the mayor of the Belarusian capital said.