Putin signs decree hindering EU’s Gazprom probe

MOSCOW - The Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree that could hinder an EU probe into gas company Gazprom’s activities in Europe.

The European Commission last week launched a probe to find out whether Gazprom blocked competition in gas markets in Central and Eastern Europe. State-owned Gazprom has been under pressure for its pricing for some time.
 
Seven days after the EU started the investigation, Putin signed a decree on Tuesday, barring strategic Russian enterprises from disclosing information to foreign regulators, changing contracts and selling property abroad without government permission. The law also specifies that these companies will need permission to change the pricing of their foreign contracts.
 
Under the law, Gazprom will not be able to cooperate fully and timely with regulators and investigators abroad.
 
Gazprom could not immediately comment.