Gas extraction by private joint-stock company Naftogazvydobuvannia, the largest private gas producing company in Ukraine, was partially halted from late March to April 21, 2015 and its production facilities were destabilized due to the actions of the Public Prosecutor's Office (PGO), which resulted in the freezing and seizure of accounts, gas wells and shares and the imposition of a ban on the sale of gas and gas condensate.

"The company considers the recent events as a continuation of purposeful pressure seen since the middle of 2014. In the period from January 1, 2014 to April 21, 2015 under various pretexts various state agencies conducted 12 checks and five searches at Naftogazvydobuvannia, but no one revealed any gross infringements in the operation of the company," the company said in a statement released on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the Pechersky District court of Kyiv decided to seize the assets of the company as a result of the claims made by senior special case investigator of the Chief Investigation Department of Public Prosecutor's Office D. Sus.

The company said that the grounds for submitting the claims to court was a criminal proceeding launched three years ago.

Naftogazvydobuvannia Director General Ihor Shurov said that there was no need for the above-mentioned actions. He said that during the three years when the criminal proceeding was ongoing, law-enforcement agencies did not freeze or seize the accounts, assets and shares of the company, and the managers cooperated with investigators, presenting all the required information and documents to them.

The company said that on April 21 the appeal court of Kyiv has confirmed the unlawfulness of the actions of the PGO and the rulings of the Pechersky District court, leading to the seizures being revoked.

"The operation of the company partially stabilized. However, if the unjustifiable pressure on the company continues it would be impossible to produce gas by Naftogazvydobuvannia in the near future. Only in 2015, Ukraine could fall short of up to 1 billion cubic meters of gas, and increase its dependence on imported supplies from Russia," the company said.

The company plans to continue court hearings and apply to international courts, the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, the parliamentary committee for fighting corruption, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Ukrainian president and legal advocacy organizations.