Astana Court Allows Ukraine’s Naftogaz To Recover $1.4 Billion From Gazprom

The Court of First Instance of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) has recognized and authorized the enforcement of an arbitration award against Russia’s Gazprom in favor of Ukraine’s Naftogaz for more than $1.4 billion, Orda.kz reports.

The case concerns a June 16, 2025, ruling by the ICC International Court of Arbitration over the transit of gas through Ukraine. Naftogaz filed its application with the AIFC Court on January 9, 2026. The decision was issued on May 15, 2026, by Judge Andrew Spink.

The AIFC Court did not reconsider the dispute itself. It only recognized and authorized the enforcement of an earlier international arbitration award.

What Caused The Dispute Between Naftogaz And Gazprom?

The conflict between the companies is linked to a 2019 contract for the transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory. In 2022, transit through one of the key entry points, Sokhranovka, was stopped because of the war.

The Ukrainian side said it continued transit through another point, Sudzha. However, Gazprom refused to pay for transit in full, claiming the contract terms had been violated. Naftogaz then appealed to the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Switzerland.

In June 2025, the arbitration tribunal sided with the Ukrainian company and ordered Gazprom to pay the debt, interest, and arbitration costs.

In January 2026, the Swiss Federal Tribunal rejected Gazprom’s attempt to appeal, finally confirming the force of the decision. After that, Naftogaz launched an international campaign to recover assets in various jurisdictions.

Kazakhstan became the first jurisdiction where a court authorized enforcement of the award, through the court of the Astana International Financial Centre.

According to the court order, Gazprom must pay:

• $1.13 billion in principal debt;
• $182.2 million in interest accrued on the outstanding principal amount;
• $117.1 million in late-payment interest;
• €4.9 million in arbitration costs;
• €225,000 in interest on costs.

In its decision, the court concluded that it had jurisdiction to recognize and enforce arbitral awards, including those issued outside Kazakhstan, in this case in Switzerland.

According to the document, the defendant was not represented in the proceedings.

The AIFC Court’s decision opens the possibility of enforcing the arbitration award in Kazakhstan.

Original author: Rustam Muratov

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