URGENT: Gazprom hopes Naftogaz investigation will not affect gas payments

MOSCOW, March 4 (RIA Novosti) - Russian energy giant Gazprom said Wednesday it hopes the Ukrainian security service's investigation into energy company Naftogaz will not affect payments for Russian gas supplies.

"We are concerned over the situation connected with the Ukranian security service's search conducted today in the central office of Naftogaz. We hope these events will not affect the full and timely fulfillment of Ukraine's Naftogaz's commitments to pay for February deliveries of Russian gas to Ukraine," Gazprom said in a statement.