Russia Claims EU Sanctions Are Preventing TurkStream Pipeline Maintenance

The Russian operator of a pipeline that supplies Turkey and the Balkans with natural gas said it would suspend some maintenance and repair work, citing European Union sanctions, a move that threatens to deepen Europe’s energy crisis. Oleg Aksyutin , the director of South Stream Transport B.V., sent a note earlier this month to division managers informing them that Netherland’s import and export authority would be revoking its export license as of September 17. South Stream Transport is the Dutch-unit of the Kremlin-controlled natural…