Microsoft restores services to Russian oil firm Nayara Energy after court case

New Delhi, July 30 Tech giant Microsoft on Wednesday informed that services were restored to the Russia-backed oil exploration and marketing company Nayara Energy, two days after Nayara alleged that Microsoft had abruptly cut off access to its data and services.

In a statement, the company said it is “committed to supporting all its customers in India and worldwide and has restored services for Nayara Energy”.

“We are engaged in ongoing discussions with the European Union towards service continuity for the organisation,” said a company.

Nayara Energy, which operates fuel retail outlets in India, is primarily owned by Russia's Rosneft, which owns nearly 49 per cent of the company. Trafigura and UCP Investment Group, both foreign companies, jointly own the majority of the remaining stake via an Indian consortium.

Earlier this week, Nayara Energy filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, alleging that the US-based technology firm abruptly and unilaterally suspended essential services without notice.

Nayara sought immediate restoration of services to protect its rights and ensure continued access to important digital systems.

According to Nayara, Microsoft blocked access to the data and services due to sanctions announced by the EU against Russian companies earlier this week, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

On July 18, the European Union (EU) announced that it had adopted a “package of economic and individual restrictive measures hitting hard on Russia’s energy, banking and military sectors, as well as trade with the EU, and ensuring accountability for Russia’s continued war of aggression against Ukraine”.

The EU has imposed an import ban on refined petroleum products made from Russian crude oil and originating from any third country, except for Canada, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The move, the EU had then said, was aimed at “preventing Russia’s crude oil from reaching the EU market through the back door.”

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