The Svea Court of Appeal in Stockholm, Sweden, made a decision by which the Republic of Kazakhstan was obliged to pay half a billion US dollars to the companies “Ascom-Grup” and “Terra Raf Trans Traiding”. The court upheld the decision of the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce by which it was ascertained that Kazakhstan violated the provisions of the International Energy Charter Treaty, IPN reports.

The Tribunal’s decision shows that Kazakhstan abusively expropriated and then managed the companies of Ascom group that explored and exploited oil and gas resources in this country. “The damage caused to the group as a result of the abusive and illegal expropriation of the companies “Kazpolmunay” and “Tolkynneftegaz” was assessed at US$1.5billion,” says a press release of Ascom group.

It also says that in 2008, the then President of Moldova Vladimir Voronin sent a letter denigrating the group to his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev. “The damage was enormous. We consider the joint and individual actions of Vladimir Voronin and Nursultan Nazarbayev deprived thousands of people or jobs and led to delays in paying salaries and trials that lasted for almost nine years. Moreover, Vladimir Voronin resorted to callous actions, ordering the arrest of Gabriel Stati on very serious accusations of public disorder and usurpation of the state power, which, as a result of investigations, turned out to be unfounded. Gabriel Stati was thus set free and the charges were dropped,” reads the press release.

The group members said they cannot understand why the competent institutions of Moldova haven’t taken legal measures to hold accountable ex-President Vladimir Voronin even if several cases are pending.