Turkmenistan says Russia, once a major customer, stops buying its natural gas

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan – Turkmenistan says that Russia, once a major customer for natural gas, has decided to not buy any from Turkmenistan this year.

A statement from state company Turkmengaz on Monday said the decision by Russia's state-owned monopoly, Gazprom, was based on changes in the international gas market and unspecified "economic and financial questions."

Turkmenistan last year complained that Gazprom had not paid for its gas purchases. Gazprom could not be reached for comment Monday.

Over the last decade, Russia has dramatically reduced its reliance on gas from Turkmenistan, which has become a major supplier to China. It has also begun construction of a pipeline to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.