INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russian President Vladimir Putin hasscrapped an order for foreign buyers of Russian gas to pay through Gazprombank, which was hit with
2022,forcing buyers to open special accounts with the financial arm of Russian energy giant Gazprom.Under a decreesigned by Putin on
Thursday, foreign buyers will now be able to use other banks to pay for Russian gas.The decree notes that gas payments will no longer be
foreign currency into rubles for the payments.Gazprombank, a major financial institution that handles payments for Russia's energy
exports, was the largest remaining Russian bank not previously blocked by the United States Treasury.The decision tosanction it sparked
concern among countries still buying gas through the state-controlled lender, including Hungary, which reportedly asked for an exemption.The
United States Treasury alleged Gazprombank was being used as "a conduit for Russia to purchase military materiel for its war effort against
Ukraine in February 2022, including an oil price cap designed to curb the Kremlin's revenues.Gazprombank had already been sanctioned by
other countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.AFP contributed reporting
