![](/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/region-europe.jpg)
Latest Articles about Central Europe
![](/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/firtash.jpg)
The Gazprom-Hungarian Gas Scam
A burst of sunshine has finally been shed on the little known story of how a once obscure Ukrainian entrepreneur, Dmytro Firtash, suspected of links to Russian organized crime, and his unknown partners in a Cypriot holding company named Mabofi Holdings, established Emfesz KFT, a... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/druzhba_pipeline.jpg)
Russian Government Backing Surgut’s Move Against Hungarian MOL
The Russian government is now openly backing Surgut Neftegaz's surreptitious acquisition of a large stake in the Hungarian MOL oil and gas company. The acquisition is legally contested in Hungary. The Russian government's political intrusion nullifies Surgut's thesis that the acquisition was a regular, free-market... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/vladimir_bogdanov.jpg)
Surgut Neftegaz Tries Crashing MOL’S Doors
*Note to readers: the M:Communications company advises that Mr. Gennady Timchenko owned less than 0.1 percent of Surgut shares as of June 11 The Kremlin-connected oil company Surgut Neftegaz has launched judicial proceedings in Budapest's metropolitan court against Hungarian MOL, the most successful private oil... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/iraq_pipeline_project.jpg)
Hungarian MOL Enters Gas Projects in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region
On May 16 in Sharjah (United Arab Emirates), the Hungarian oil and gas company MOL signed an agreement to acquire a 10 percent stake in Pearl Petroleum, the holder of exploration and production rights in two gas fields in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/Alexander_Medvedev.jpg)
RosGas AG to Control 20 Percent of Hungarian Gas Distribution
Barely nine days after the Hungarian gas trader Emfesz KFT announced that it will begin receiving supplies of 3 billion cubic meters annually from the Zug (Switzerland) based company RosGas AG, rather than the now inactive RosUkrEnergo (RUE) the Russian press reported that Emfesz has... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/emfesz_logo.jpg)
Gazprom’s Murky Games in Hungary
Gazprom may be preparing to take over a large part of the Hungarian domestic gas distribution network. A new, highly opaque deal is in the works as a result of which Hungary's energy security could be threatened. On April 28 Emfesz KFT, a major Hungarian... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/MOL_Oil_Pipeline_in_Druzhba.jpg)
The Strategic Implications of Russian Move Against Hungary’s MOL
The European Union remains a passive bystander to Russia's attempted capture of MOL, the Hungarian oil and gas company (EDM, April 3, 6). The Kremlin-connected Surgut Neftegaz became the single largest shareholder in MOL, literally overnight, through surreptitious acquisition of Austrian OMV's entire 21.2 stake... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/Ferenc_Gyurcsany.jpg)
Hungary Blindsided By Russian Entry Into Oil and Gas Company
Surgut Neftegaz appears to have vastly overpaid for OMV's stake in MOL. The Russian company bought the 21.2 percent stake for 1.4 billion Euros on March 30 on the Budapest stock exchange. The average purchase price per share was 19,200 Hungarian Forint, almost double the... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/surgutneftegaz-logo.jpg)
Major Russian Oil Company Secretly Buys Into Hungary’s MOL
The Kremlin-connected oil company Surgut Neftegaz has surreptitiously bought Austrian OMV's entire 21.2 percent stake in Hungary's MOL Oil and Gas Company. European Union authorities, the privately owned MOL, and Hungary are aghast at Surgut's move and OMV's collusion with it. Budapest and Brussels were... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/PutinGyurcsany.jpg)
Putin, Gazprom Bluffing to Hungarians on South Stream
On March 10 in Moscow, Gazprom and Hungary's Development Bank signed the initial documents for a joint venture to implement Gazprom's South Stream pipeline project on Hungarian territory. The respective chairmen, Alexei Miller and Janos Eros, signed the documents in the presence of Prime Ministers... MORE