An inquiry is underway concerning the sale of Gazprom’s subsidiary in Berlin, Gazprom Germania, which occurred roughly one month following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
On Wednesday, German officials conducted raids in Berlin and Frankfurt linked to an inquiry into a suspected attempt to disrupt Germany’s gas supply.
ADVERTISEMENT 
ADVERTISEMENT
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office stated that police raided the properties of a Russian national suspect and another individual not currently investigated in Berlin, as well as an unidentified company’s site in Frankfurt am Main.
The probe focuses on the divestment of Gazprom’s Berlin branch, Gazprom Germania, which took place about a month after Russia launched its wide-scale military action in Ukraine in February 2022.
Federal prosecutors indicated that the company was sold off from the Russian Gazprom Group via “indirect share transactions” by the end of March 2022. Subsequently, a «Moscow-based company not linked to the sector» became the new owner.
This new owner then ordered the dismantling of Gazprom Germania, which, at that time, controlled at least 25% of Germany’s natural gas storage capacity, according to prosecutors.
“The accused — a Russian national — faces charges for facilitating the execution of the liquidation decision with this intent,” the statement specified, while also noting that no arrests have occurred so far.
Before the invasion of Ukraine, Russia played a major role supplying natural gas to Germany. Since then, Berlin has had to swiftly cut down on its dependence on Russian energy imports.
Late in 2022, former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz remarked that Germany would avoid becoming reliant again on such a vital resource as natural gas.
“Our experience with Russia has demonstrated the risks associated with dependence on a strategically essential resource,” he declared at an economic forum hosted by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung. “Based on discussions with German industry leaders, it is clear that this mistake will not be repeated.”
The European Union has committed to eliminating imports of Russian gas by the end of 2027 while working to diversify its energy portfolio.
“We are moving away from harmful dependence on Russian gas and making significant progress, united in solidarity and cooperation, toward an autonomous Energy Union,” stated Michael Damianos, Cyprus’ minister for energy, commerce, and industry, in January.