MOSCOW, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Russian energy giant Gazprom said on Saturday that it will cease gas supplies to Moldova starting Jan. 1 due to unpaid debt by Moldova's national gas company, Moldovagaz.
Gazprom said on Telegram that Moldovagaz "regularly fails to fulfill its payment obligations under the current contract, which is a significant violation of its terms."
The suspension is set to be in effect at 8 a.m. Moscow time (0500 GMT) on Jan. 1, 2025 and will remain in place until further notice, it said.
In response, Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean said his government does not recognize the debt and will carefully analyze legal options, including appealing to international arbitration, to protect its national interests, Sputnik reported Saturday.
Moldova's parliament has voted to impose a national state of emergency for 60 days starting Dec. 16 due to an expected cut-off of Russian gas supplies from Jan. 1, 2025. ■