The European Union accused Russia’s state-controlled gas company OAO Gazprom of hindering competition and charging unfair prices in Central and Eastern Europe, a move that could constrain Moscow’s ability to wield power in its former backyard. The charges, which escalate a 2½-year investigation , come only a week after the EU waded into another politically sensitive antitrust battle with the U.S. search engine Google Inc. Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner in charge of competition policy. They open up the possibility of multibillion-dollar fines for Gazprom and injunctions that could have far-reaching consequences for a company already struggling with low oil prices and EU moves to diversify the bloc’s gas supply. The accusations also attack the way the company has tied its gas deals to broader strategic goals defined by Moscow. “From now on it will be more difficult for the Kremlin to use Gazprom as a tool of […]