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Crimean leader threatens Kiev with lawsuit over power blackout

Ukraine's Energy Minister Vladimir Demchishin earlier expressed hope that Russia would not sue Kiev over the power blackout

© Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS

MOSCOW, December 1. /TASS/. Crimea’s authorities will file a lawsuit against Ukraine over the power blackout as soon as the situation with energy supply stabilizes on the peninsula, the republic’s head Sergey Aksyonov said in an interview with the RSN radio station on Tuesday.

"To be honest, we have no time for this now, we are busy dealing with the situation. As soon as we understand that we have reached every Crimean citizen and no one is left without support, only then shall we start preparing the lawsuit," Aksyonov said.

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The Crimean leader said "the whole process will take not six months and not a year, but much more time," adding that he sees no sense in doing the paperwork now.

Crimea declared a state of emergency on November 22 after explosions cut off electricity supply from Ukraine. This forced the peninsula to rely on generators. Authorities have introduced a schedule of rotating blackouts.

Crimea’s energy system will become independent from Ukraine after the launch of the so-called energy bridge, which is supposed to supply energy from mainland Russia to the peninsula.

The bridge’s first stage, connecting Russia’s southern Krasnodar territory with Crimea, may become operational before December 20, 2015, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said.

On Monday, Ukraine’s Energy Minister Vladimir Demchishin said the current contract with Russia on electricity supplies to Crimea is advantageous for Ukraine. Kiev made a profit of 300 million hryvnia ($13 million) over 10 months due to this contract, he said. The minister also expressed hope that Russia would not sue Kiev over the power blackout.

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Ukraine crisis Foreign policy Crimea and Sevastopol

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