Kazakhstan rejects court decision backing Ukraine
Photo: Kazakhstan has refused to comply with a court ruling in favor of Ukraine (Getty Images)
Kazakhstan has refused to comply with a court ruling that allows for the recovery of $1.4 billion from Russia’s Gazprom in favor of Ukraine’s Naftogaz, according to Kazakh Justice Minister Erlan Särsembaev.
Background
This concerns a ruling by the International Arbitration Court in the dispute between Naftogaz and Gazprom regarding the transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory.
Recently, the court of the Astana International Financial Center, which operates under British law, authorized the enforcement of this ruling on the territory of Kazakhstan. This meant the possibility of collecting $1.4 billion from the Russian company in favor of Ukraine.
What Kazakhstan says
Kazakhstani Minister of Justice Erlan Särsembaev emphasizes that this ruling will not be enforced.
According to him, the dispute does not fall under Kazakhstan's jurisdiction.
He also notes that the ruling was issued without the participation of the Russian side and is not yet final.
"Any person has the right to go to court, but that does not mean the court automatically has jurisdiction," Särsembaev explains.
What caused dispute
The dispute between Naftogaz and Gazprom stems from a 2019 contract for gas transit through Ukraine.
After transit through the Sokhranovka station was halted in 2022, the Ukrainian company demanded compensation from the Russian monopoly.
Naftogaz’s previous victory
In March 2026, the Naftogaz of Ukraine Group finally won the arbitration dispute against Gazprom for over $1.4 billion.
At that time, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court rejected the Russian company’s appeal and upheld the arbitration award issued in June 2025.
