Advocates from the USA will represent interests of Ukraine for USD 1.25 mln.

Naftogaz has concluded the agreement with US legal company Covington & Burling LLP regarding protection of rights and interests of Ukraine during settlement of disputes, arising in connection with the occupation of the Crimea, Корреспондент.net reports.

The agreement amounting to USD 1.25 mln was signed on January 1.

The justification of procurement does not decode the certain subject of the dispute, for which US lawyers have been hired. It is specified that disputes, arising out with Naftogaz’s loss and impossibility to use properties and loss of revenues on the territory of the Crimea and Sevastopol, internal sea waters and territorial sea of Ukraine around the peninsula, coast, continental shelf, over which the jurisdiction of Ukrainian state authorities extends.

The conclusion of agreement with Americans was carried out after the Pechersk Court has sequestrated the drilling derricks Petro Hodovanets and Nezalezhnist at the suit of the General Prosecutor’s Office. They were lost together with the Crimea and Ukrainian authorities have not made any attempts to return them for about two years, before Russians have dragged derricks far from Ukraine, the edition reports.

Naftogaz explains that Covington & Burling LLP has been chosen, because this firm has positive experience of protection of interests of clients at different levels against Russia, Russian state enterprises and officials.

In 2015 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has hired Covington & Burling LLP for USD 300 ths for protection of Ukraine in the dispute with Russia regarding interpretation and application of the Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and RF government on encouragement and mutual protection of investments of 1998. The MFA has concluded with the firm one more agreement for protection from Russia, not informing what matter is referred to.