After the European Commission started its investigation into "Gazprom", President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on measures to protect Russian interests for legal Russian entities of foreign trade. The text of the decree has been published on the Kremlin website.

The decree states that joint stock companies that are strategic enterprises, and their subsidiaries, "If demands are made of these companies from foreign governments, international organisations, foreign associations or institutions, including the regulatory authorities" then Russian companies can perform only a limited number of actions and provide only limited information without the prior consent of the federal executive body, authorised by the Government of the Russian Federation.

In particular, a company will be able to provide information relating to its activities only with the consent of Russian authorities. In addition they must consult Russian authorities in order to make changes in agreements signed by joint stock companies and their subsidiaries with foreign partners, or other documents relating to their commercial policies in foreign countries. The decree also states that the companies will be able dispose of foreign interests, and affirms their right to carry out business activities in foreign countries or own property abroad.

Within the next month, the Russian government will identify those foreign companies and federal organisations that will operate under the decree.

The decree came into force from the date of publication.

Putin signed the document in a week after the European Commission announced the antitrust investigation against "Gazprom" on three possible cases of antitrust violations.

Gazprom said that it had not received official notification of the beginning of the antitrust investigation, but is ready for constructive dialogue. On Sunday, Putin spoke about the investigation, stating that it was "not fighting, nor was it a trade war."