The German Federal government is currently negotiating with the Russian oil conglomerate, Rosneft, regarding the potential temporary suspension of the ongoing lawsuit targeting the new trusteeship established for German Rosneft subsidiaries. This information emerged from the government’s official response to a parliamentary inquiry, which was reported by “Politico”. Although talks are underway, no agreement has been reached as of yet.
According to the government’s reply to Green Party Member of Bundestag Michael Kellner, the lawsuit was not filed to be put on hold, but rather, “the parties involved and their legal representatives are engaged in discussions about a possible temporary suspension of the proceedings”.
The lawsuit was initially filed by Rosneft against the Federal government at the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court at the end of March. This action, which was first submitted only as a procedural safeguard, challenges an order issued by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs on February 27. This order stipulated that the German Rosneft subsidiaries-and thus the majority owners of the PCK refinery in Brandenburg-were to be permanently placed under state trusteeship on new legal grounds.
Adding to the complexity, Russia blocked the Druschba pipeline on May 1, which had previously been used to transport crude oil from Kazakhstan to the PCK refinery in Schwedt. Since then, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has been attempting to secure oil supplies through alternative transport routes, such as those running through Poland, but has so far been unsuccessful.
Adding political pressure, Green Party spokesperson Michael Kellner criticized the Russian actions, arguing that Rosneft is attempting to “drive the refinery into a corner”. Both the pipeline blockage and the lawsuit highlight his view that the Federal government should counter this momentum and nationalize Rosneft’s interests in Germany.
