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On May 26, 2015, Head of the VEGAS LEX Fuel and Energy Group Alexander Lavrentyev took part in a workshop on Important Legal Issues in the Operation of Gas Distribution Organizations and Gas Distribution and Supply Companies, an event organized in St. Petersburg* for the heads of legal services of gas trader Gazprom Mezhregiongaz subsidiaries.

Mr. Lavrentyev’s presentation focused on Unauthorized Connection and Withdrawal of Natural Gas by Legal Entities: Legal Definition of Crime, Perpetrators, and Difficulties in Justifying the Evaluation of Damage. He discussed the types of liability and potential grounds for prosecution for unauthorized gas withdrawal, and especially concentrated on ways to use the measurements from the gas meters when evaluating the volume of gas consumed on a contract-less basis. He also pointed out the signs that might be evidence of abuse of rights on the part of the consumer taking out gas without a contract, and gave examples of relevant court practices for evaluating the volume of gas consumed without a contract.

The workshop program included other legal issues, such as the changes in procedural legislation after the Supreme Commercial Court was abolished; the enforcement of the new Code of Administrative Court Proceedings; the application of procurement laws in court practice; the role of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the corporate procurement control system; compliance with the Federal Competition Law (135-FZ of July 26, 2006); the changes in the land use and urban development laws that apply to linear facilities; involvement in bankruptcy proceedings; legal liability of indebted business leaders and other issues.

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* The workshop was organized by the ANT Training Center professional development company and Audit-NT.

For more information on VEGAS LEX’s energy-related services, please go here.