Sanctions barring EU firms from providing Crimea with energy technology were said to have been ignored by Russia.
ADVERTISEMENTGerman industrial conglomorate Siemens has threatened legal action against Moscow after it was revealed that two of the company’s gas turbines had been transported from Russia to Crimea,
Despite sanctions barring EU firms from providing the disputed peninsula with energy technology, Russia is trying to push on with its $1.3 billion dollar plan to build two new power plants in the annexed territory.
Siemens insisted that it was unaware that two of the four turbines it delivered for a project in Russia were destined for Crimea, and that it would press criminal charges against those responsible for diverting them.
“Siemens has received information from reliable sources that at least two of the four gas turbine sets, which were delivered for the project in Taman, Southern Russia, have been moved to Crimea against our will,” the company said in a statement.
“Over the last few months, our customer has confirmed to us numerous times in writing that a delivery to Crimea would not occur. As a consequence, Siemens will initiate criminal charges against the responsible individuals.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed make good on Moscow’s plan to supply Crimea’s residents with the power they once got from Ukraine.
The Kremlin responded to the accusations, saying that the turbines had been built in Russia using Russian components.
