The Republic of Moldova owes Gazprom just $8.6 million for gas supplies, a tiny fraction of the massive $709 million debt claimed by the Russian energy giant, several Moldovan officials said on Wednesday after an internal audit was completed, Reuters reported.

Gazprom and its subsidiary in the Republic of Moldova said in late 2021 that the Republic of Moldova has accumulated hundreds of millions of dollars in debt that must be paid to ensure stable gas supplies.

Moldova disputed Gazprom’s claims and then condemned Russia’s “energy blackmail”.

Several Moldovan officials said on Wednesday that an international audit showed the country owed only $8.6 million to a Russian company, adding that the government in Chisinau had no plans to pay “non-existent debts.”

Gazprom, which did not respond to a Reuters request for comment, last year presented the $709 million it is claiming. Moldova is guilty, but it is possible that the Russian side will now demand even more, based on the fines it has charged.

“After clarifying the debt for natural gas, Moldova does not intend to pay non-existent debts, and citizens are not obliged to pay the corresponding bills,” Prime Minister Dorin Rechan said.

Moldovan Energy Minister Victor Parlikov added that the auditors did not receive documents about the sums of 276 million dollars from Gazprom and its local subsidiary Moldovagaz.

“This does not mean that these documents do not exist, but only that they were not provided to the auditors,” he clarified.

He noted that “Moldovagaz” and “Gazprom” have been informed about the results of the audit and that the government is waiting for the reaction of the Russian company.

Last year, Gazprom threatened to completely stop supplying gas to the neighboring country because of this debt and several times sharply reduced the volume of supplies.