MOSCOW, September 4 (RAPSI) – The probe into Sakhalin-II after Rosneft was denied access to the gas pipeline could be accelerated with the assistance of Gazprom, RIA Novosti reported on Thursday, citing chief of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) Igor Artemyev.

“If Gazprom agrees to cooperate, provides the necessary documents and everything else we need, the investigation will be concluded within three months,” the agency quoted Artemyev as having said. “If they refuse to provide the documents, they face a fine of 500,000 rubles (about $13,500), which they can contest in court.” Proceedings may last up to twelve months, according to Artemyev.

In August, the service launched a probe into Sakhalin Energy, operator of the Sakhalin-II project, after Rosneft claimed that it was denied access to its pipeline system. Sakhalin Energy is suspected of violating the federal competition law.