A GREEN Party councillor has urged Oxford University to axe a deal with a Russian gas supplier in the wake of unrest in Ukraine.

Sam Hollick said it should stop taking gas from Gazprom, which the Russian government holds a majority stake in.

It comes after economic sanctions were imposed on Russia by the United States and the European Union.

Russia is alleged to be arming separatist rebel fighters in eastern Ukraine, who are accused of shooting down a Malaysian Airlines plane last month.

The Oxford City Council Green leader said: “It is not acceptable for Oxford University to sit back and ignore [its] responsibilities.

“The university needs to proactively support sanctions that will help prevent conflict.

“Outside this issue it should be seeking to divest from fossil fuels.”

University spokeswoman Clare Woodcock said the contract was under “constant review” through a third party utilities management company it uses, but added that it was not aware of any concerns that had been raised over the contract.

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