Kazakhstan refuses to enforce $1.4B Naftogaz ruling against Gazprom

Kazakhstan's Justice Minister Yerlan Sarsenbaev has announced that Astana will not enforce an Astana International Financial Centre court ruling that granted Ukraine's Naftogaz the right to collect $1.4 billion from Russia's Gazprom. The decision highlights Kazakhstan's careful balancing act between its relationships with both Russia and Ukraine.

Kazakhstan will not enforce a court ruling that recognized Ukraine's state energy company Naftogaz's right to collect $1.4 billion from Russian gas giant Gazprom, the country's Justice Minister [Yerlan Sarsenbaev](/politicians/yerlan-sarsenbaev) confirmed.

The ruling in question was issued by the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) court, an independent judicial body operating in Kazakhstan's capital. Despite the court finding in Naftogaz's favour, Sarsenbaev stated that Kazakh authorities would not move to enforce the decision.

## A delicate geopolitical balance

The announcement underscores Kazakhstan's increasingly complex position as it attempts to maintain functional relationships with both Russia and Ukraine amid the ongoing war. Astana has repeatedly sought to avoid actions that could be perceived as openly siding with either party in the conflict.

The case involves a significant financial dispute between two of the region's largest energy companies. Naftogaz, Ukraine's national oil and gas company, had pursued legal action against Gazprom in an international forum, ultimately securing a ruling in its favour — only for Kazakhstan to decline to act on it.

## Implications for international arbitration

The decision raises questions about the practical enforceability of rulings issued by international financial courts operating within Kazakhstan's jurisdiction, particularly in cases with clear geopolitical dimensions. For Ukraine, the refusal represents yet another obstacle in its broader legal and financial campaign against Russian state entities.