Newark Council supports suspending city Lukoil gas station licenses

Newark City Council unanimously backed a resolution urging the city government to suspend the licenses for local Lukoil service stations in an effort to support Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion.

The vote, seeking to have city Business Administrator Eric Pennington pull the licenses in New Jersey’s largest city, is part of the ripple effect resulting from Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion. Soon after Russian tanks and troops rolled into Ukraine, the world community, including the United States, responded with both economic sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s autocratic regime and military aid for the democratic Ukrainian government, led by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 

The intensifying conflict, marked by the Russian advance on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and a reported foiled assassination attempt of Zelensky, momentarily flared up on Newark’s Broad Street. Roger Verma, one of the Lukoil station owners in Newark, said that he was left “baffled and confused” by the council’s proposal to revoke the licenses.

Two Lukoil stations in Newark, both located on McCarter Highway, are operated by Lukoil North America, a subsidiary of the Moscow-based PJSC Lukoil. 

“It’s not our intention to try to punish anyone locally,” said Councilman Anibal Ramos, who noted that several Newark businesses, including a bakery, approached the city to offer potential jobs for those who may be affected by the council’s proposal.

“We had attorneys review the resolution. There is a direct link between Lukoil, the Russian Federation, and a number of oligarchs who are owners of this company. Any threat to democracy affects us, including here in Newark. And we’re sending copies of our resolution to other municipalities throughout New Jersey for their consideration.”