On 11 August, RIA Novosti news agency reported: “The triple gas union of Russia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan may be expanded to include other countries, Dmitry Birichevsky, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Economic Cooperation Department, told RIA Novosti.

We do not rule out the possibility of expanding trilateral co-operation in the gas sector. We know that other states are also interested in it. We are open to such co-operation on the understanding that it should be mutually beneficial and constructive, taking into account the positions of all participants,” he said.

Comment:
According to OPEC data for 2021, Uzbekistan ranked 17th on the list of countries in terms of gas production per year, while Russia ranked 2nd. Despite this, Russia, after the military aggression against Ukraine, has been under sanctions, which has significantly reduced gas supplies to Europe and other countries. And European countries themselves, despite the need for gas, are starting to refuse to buy Russian gas.

The Kremlin’s authority in the international arena has fallen to the level of Central Asian dictators. Putin’s last visit to Europe was to Switzerland in 2021. Today Putin is playing in a sandbox with his subordinates, the dictator presidents of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. Over the last year or so there has been no news about Putin’s visit to Europe or the visit of European leaders to Russia. Putin was kicked out of the G8 and is no longer welcome in Europe.

Now the Kremlin has to sell its gas to circumvent sanctions through Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan. The tyrant Karimov, the first president of Uzbekistan, used to sell gas this way. At that time, Uzbekistan was under sanctions, and Karimov was constantly angry and quarrelsome with the Kremlin because Putin was buying gas at a low price and then reselling it to Europe at a much higher price. Now, Putin is in Karimov’s shoes and cannot sell gas to Europe or other countries because of the sanctions.

Uzbekistan, in turn, justifies itself to the international community for trading with Russia by the lack of gas in the country, although it is in the top 20 leaders in gas production in the world. It is not surprising that such a brazen lie suits the leaders of world powers. Because today the entire policy of the world community is based on deceit and hypocrisy.

In Islam, gas as a natural resource is public property. The state or a private person cannot appropriate this natural resource and use it solely at his discretion. It was narrated by Abu Dawud from Ibn Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: ‏

«الْمُسْلِمُونَ شُرَكَاءُ فِي ثَلاَثٍ فِي الْمَاءِ وَالْكَلإِ وَالنَّارِ وَثَمَنُهُ حَرَامٌ» ‏

“Muslims are co-owners in three things: water, pasture and fire”.

The same hadith has been transmitted by Anas with the addition “…and their sale is forbidden”.

It was transmitted by Ibn Majah from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

»ثَلاَثٌ لاَ يُمْنَعْنَ الْمَاءُ وَالْكَلأُ وَالنَّارُ

“Three things are not forbidden to people: water, pasture and fire.”

This indicates that people are co-owners in water, pasture and fire and that it is forbidden for a private person to take ownership of them.

Only the Second Righteous State Khilafah (Caliphate) led by a righteous ruler can stop the sale of gas and put an end to the crimes of our tyrant rulers and their coloniser masters.We are convinced that it will come true soon, for Allah is swift in His promises. And on Allah we trust!

Eldar Khamzin
Member of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir