TotalEnergies sues Yannick Jadot for defamation over accusations linked to Russian operations

Senator Yannick Jadot appears in court in Paris for defamation after accusing TotalEnergies of being “an accomplice to war crimes” due to its presence in Russia in 2022.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90€/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90€/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 €/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99€/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 €/year from the second year.

Green Party senator Yannick Jadot stands trial this Tuesday before the Paris criminal court, following a defamation lawsuit filed by TotalEnergies SE. The case concerns statements made in March 2022, when Jadot, then a presidential candidate, publicly accused the French oil group of being “an accomplice to war crimes” for maintaining its energy operations in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine began.

On multiple occasions, Jadot spoke out in the media, condemning the continued involvement of TotalEnergies in Russian joint ventures, particularly in light of international sanctions. Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies SE, responded forcefully, describing the remarks as a serious attack on the company’s reputation and its 100,000 employees.

TotalEnergies defends its gradual withdrawal policy

In the weeks that followed these public statements, TotalEnergies announced plans to progressively withdraw from certain operations in Russia, beginning with those that, according to the company, were not essential to Europe’s energy supply. In April 2022, a partial withdrawal process was initiated, followed in September by the divestment of its 49% stake in the joint venture Terneftegaz, which operates the Termokarstovoye gas field in northern Russia.

Non-governmental organisations including Darwin Climax Coalition and Razom We Stand also filed a complaint against the group, accusing it of complicity in war crimes. However, the judiciary dismissed the complaint as inadmissible. The associations alleged that TotalEnergies continued to produce gas condensate used in the manufacturing of aviation fuel for the Russian military until the summer of 2022.

Political and institutional fallout

Due to the legal action initiated by the oil group, Yannick Jadot was compelled to step back from discussions relating to Russia within the Senate’s investigative committee on TotalEnergies, of which he was the rapporteur. The senator stated that the legal proceedings were intended to suppress his public commentary on the issue.

TotalEnergies reiterated that its operations complied strictly with European Union energy policy and applicable sanctions. The company also stated it had never produced jet fuel for the Russian military and emphasised the transparency of its disengagement process.

Faced with rising global electricity demand, energy sector leaders are backing an "all-of-the-above" strategy, with oil and gas still expected to supply 50% of global needs by 2050.
London has expanded its sanctions against Russia by blacklisting 70 new tankers, striking at the core of Moscow's energy exports and budget revenues.
Iraq is negotiating with Oman to build a pipeline linking Basrah to Omani shores to reduce its dependence on the Strait of Hormuz and stabilise crude exports to Asia.
French steel tube manufacturer Vallourec has secured a strategic agreement with Petrobras, covering complete offshore well solutions from 2026 to 2029.
Increased output from Opec+ and non-member producers is expected to create a global oil surplus as early as 2025, putting pressure on crude prices, according to the International Energy Agency.
The Brazilian company expands its African footprint with a new offshore exploration stake, partnering with Shell and Galp to develop São Tomé and Príncipe’s Block 4.
A drone attack on a Bachneft oil facility in Ufa sparked a fire with no casualties, temporarily disrupting activity at one of Russia’s largest refineries.
The divide between the United States and the European Union over regulations on Russian oil exports to India is causing a drop in scheduled deliveries, as negotiation margins tighten between buyers and sellers.
Against market expectations, US commercial crude reserves surged due to a sharp drop in exports, only slightly affecting international prices.
Russia plans to ship 2.1 million barrels per day from its western ports in September, revising exports upward amid lower domestic demand following drone attacks on key refineries.
QatarEnergy obtained a 35% stake in the Nzombo block, located in deep waters off Congo, under a production sharing contract signed with the Congolese government.
Phillips 66 acquires Cenovus Energy’s remaining 50% in WRB Refining, strengthening its US market position with two major sites totalling 495,000 barrels per day.
Nigeria’s two main oil unions have halted loadings at the Dangote refinery, contesting the rollout of a private logistics fleet that could reshape the sector’s balance.
Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. enters Gabonese offshore with a strategic contract on the Ngulu block, expanding its portfolio with immediate production potential and long-term development opportunities.
BW Energy has finalised a $365mn financing for the conversion of the Maromba FPSO offshore Brazil and signed a short-term lease for a drilling rig with Minsheng Financial Leasing.
Vantage Drilling has finalised a major commercial agreement for the deployment of the Platinum Explorer, with a 260-day offshore mission starting in Q1 2026.
Permex Petroleum has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Chisos Ltd. for potential funding of up to $25mn to develop its oil assets in the Permian Basin.
OPEC+ begins a new phase of gradual production increases, starting to lift 1.65 million barrels/day of voluntary cuts after the early conclusion of a 2.2 million barrels/day phaseout.
Imperial Petroleum expanded its fleet to 19 vessels in the second quarter of 2025, while reporting a decline in revenue due to lower rates in the maritime oil market.
Eight OPEC+ members will meet to adjust their quotas as forecasts point to a global surplus of 3 million barrels per day by year-end.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.