The Supervisory Board of Naftogaz Ukrainy has decided to give rewards to 41 employees of the company for the victory over Gazprom in the Stockholm Arbitration in full compliance with good corporate governance practices worldwide, according to a letter signed by the latest composition of Naftogaz independent members Claire Spottiswoode, Bruno Leskoeur and Ludo Van der Heyden.

"These bonuses were approved unanimously by the whole board, including both the independent and the dependent members nominated by the government of Ukraine and representing it," they said in the letter.

The independent directors of Naftogaz refute any pressure on the Supervisory Board regarding the decision on bonuses: "This decision set a precedent in Ukraine and was intended as an award for a wholly unprecedented success."

The independent members reminded that the Supervisory Board (SB) and the Board of Directors considered their decision very carefully, and all transactions were carried out in accordance with the financial plan. "We presume that all SB minutes and other relevant Naftogaz documents are available to NABU from Naftogaz, which will be able to verify all the statements provided in our letter," the letter says.

Ludo Van der Heyden, apart from the letter, said that none of the three independent members of the Naftogaz board have been interviewed by the court or by NABU since the award was decided.

"I can also not imagine that the court would find something that was illegal in a matter that is the responsibility of the SB in any case, and where the SB acted according to its best judgement," he said.

As reported, the anti-corruption authorities of Ukraine last week notified the former head of Naftogaz, Andriy Kobolev, of suspicion of abusing his official position while securing UAH 229 million in bonuses paid to him for the company's victory in the Stockholm arbitration with the Russian Gazprom.