Hacker News Reader

Europe is sanctioning the hell out of Russia, and yet Gazprom would pay huge penalties on violating a contract. If anything this story shows why it's unlikely they blew up the pipeline. After that whole legalese theater, they just decided to turn off the tap. As simple as that. And just as simple to refuse to pay any fees.

View on HN

Things are not so easy, just yesterday there was an article about the financial crises caused by a Korean state not honouring their bond promises.

If Gazprom would simply turn off the gas and say f* off to the fines, they would signal to ask buyers that they are willing to disregard contracts for political reasons. This would significantly undermine confidence in doing business with them, and likely lower prices people would pay for their gas.

Korea isn't in a war (their northern neighbor notwithstanding). They are still ostensibly abiding by the rule of law, so of course they're not going to merely give the finger to anybody who tries to fine them.

Or maybe those courts which could somehow force Russia to pay fines for turning off gas should force Russia to pay fines for invading Ukraine.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com