Since the 90s, the Russian gas giant, through the company Gazprom Germany GMBHpresent in Germany and a number of other European countries.

About 1,200 employees are affiliated with the German branch of Gazprom, which is also part owner of other companies in countries such as the UK, Czech Republic and Switzerland.

After Russia invaded Ukraine, Gazprom, other Russian companies and a number of Russian citizens have experienced restrictions and sanctions against themselves and their businesses in Europe.

“Basically, companies no longer feel welcome in Germany,” Katja Wafimava, an advisor at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, told Reuters.

Audited by EU

Investigators from the European Union’s competition authority recently lined up at Gazprom’s Berlin office.

An investigation is being carried out against the company, based on allegations that Gazprom has affected gas distribution to Europe, increased prices and unfairly affected consumers.

Germany relies heavily on gas from Russia, but the country has signaled that it will stop using Russian gas in the long term.

Gas is traded in Western currencies, but Russia has signaled it wants a settlement in rubles, which Russian gas buyers in Europe oppose and call a breach of contract.

Schedule unknown

What is now happening to Gazprom’s assets in various European countries, through its offices in Germany, is unclear. The company has not provided details on this.

Gazprom also did not announce a timetable for closing its operations in Germany, other than announcing that it would be leaving the country.

Further gas sales to Europe can be made by a company establishing itself in another European country or by operating its operations in Europe from its head office in St. Petersburg.

Sponsorship agreement terminated

For consumers, Gazprom is most visible in Europe through sponsorship agreements with various football clubs and UEFA Champions League tournaments. The football organization has signaled that it will terminate its agreement with Gazprom following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

But Russia will probably precede UEFA, before all legal agreements are reviewed, and terminate the agreements they have.

This has been organized through a marketing company owned by Gazprom in Germany.