You're reading: Europeans warned of possible disruptions of gas supply through Belarus

Moscow. June 21 (Interfax) - Russia has timely notified its foreign partners about a possible risk of a disruption of the gas supplies through Belarus, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin said on Monday.

"On June 19 I sent a notice to the European energy commissioner about a possible emergency as of June 21 with regard to Russian natural gas supplies to European Union consumers through Belarus," Sechin said at a Russian government meeting.

Gazprom has also timely notified its foreign partners about the "alarming situation," he said.

The current gas problem "arose due to the systemic shortfall in payments by Belarusian company Beltransgaz," Sechin said. This led to the accumulation of a debt of more than $190 million, excluding fines, he said

"On June 25 Belarus is due to make another payment of about $270 million, however calls on Belarus to repay the debt have until now failed to have any effect," Sechin said.

Gazprom cut its supplies to Belarus from 10 a.m. on June 21.