German prosecutors raid ex-Gazprom premises in sabotage probe

German federal prosecutors said on June 24 they were searching premises linked to former Gazprom subsidiary Gazprom Germania as part of an investigation into suspected attempted sabotage of Germany’s gas supply and possible violations of foreign trade law.

The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office in Karlsruhe said searches were carried out at locations in Berlin and at a company in Frankfurt in connection with the former energy group Gazprom Germania, dpa reports. 

Prosecutors said they suspected that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had been accompanied by a deliberate attempt to disrupt Germany’s gas supply.

The case concerns suspected attempted sabotage against the constitutional order and aiding and abetting violations of the Foreign Trade and Payments Act, the prosecutor’s office said.

No arrests were made.

“Today's searches are intended to clarify the existing grounds for suspicion,” the authority said.

According to prosecutors, Berlin-based Gazprom Germania GmbH was separated from Russia’s Gazprom group in late March 2022 through indirect share sales by the responsible shareholders.

“A Moscow company with no connection to the industry emerged as the new owner,” the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office said.

The new owner then ordered the liquidation of Gazprom Germania immediately after the sale, prosecutors said. At the time, the company controlled at least 25% of Germany’s natural gas storage capacity.

The prosecutor’s office said the liquidation order had been issued without authorisation from the Federal Economy Ministry, in breach of investment regulations under the Foreign Trade and Payments Act.

“There is suspicion that the sale and liquidation were intended to disrupt the gas supply in Germany,” the authority said.

Prosecutors allege that the suspect supported the implementation of the liquidation decision with that aim in mind.

The liquidation was ultimately prevented after Germany’s Economy Ministry ordered the Federal Network Agency to take temporary trustee control of Gazprom Germania.

Gazprom Germania, formerly part of the Russian state-owned Gazprom group, was later nationalised by Germany amid the fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the resulting energy crisis. The company now operates under the name Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE).

By Sabina Mammadli