Kazakhstan Turns to Swiss Court for Oil Arbitration Leverage

Kazakhstan filed a lawsuit in Switzerland in a bid to strengthen its multibillion-dollar arbitration battle with international oil companies operating in the country.

Astana is seeking about $15 million plus interest from several companies and individuals it accuses of corruption linked to oil-field developments run by units of Italy’s Eni SpA, documents filed by the country show. The Swiss case centers on evidence from proceedings in Houston and criminal cases in Italy, which Kazakhstan hopes to use to persuade arbitration judges that bribery occurred.