MOSCOW, May 20. /TASS/. Austrian energy company OMV has joined other European companies that transfer payments to Gazprombank in euros to pay for gas supplies from Russia, Reuters reported on Friday, citing a company representative.

"We have implemented a payment process that does not violate [imposed] sanctions and ensures timely payments for gas supplies," an OMV spokesman told the agency.

"We consider our payment obligations fulfilled with the transfer of the amount in euros," he added.

On March 31, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree that lays out a new procedure for paying for gas supplies by buyers from unfriendly countries. Now such states must transfer funds in foreign currencies to Gazprombank, which will buy rubles on exchanges and transfer them to special ruble accounts of importers. Russia will continue to supply gas in volumes and for prices, which were set in the earlier signed contracts.