MOSCOW, June 19 (Reuters) - A Russian court on Wednesday banned French company Engie and Czech firm Innogy Energie from pursuing international arbitration against Russian state energy firm Gazprom, according to the court's documents.

Engie launched arbitration proceedings against Gazprom in February 2023 in the International Arbitration Court of the International Chamber of Commerce claiming the Russian company had failed to meet its natural gas supply obligations.

Innogy Energie also sought international arbitration.

Gazprom has launched numerous proceedings at Russia's St Petersburg and Leningrad Region Arbitration Court, threatening the European companies with fines if they continue international litigations.

However, some European companies have said that did not recognise the court's authority.

The legal battles between Gazprom and companies in Europe, once Russia's largest trading partner, sparked after Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin, Editing by Louise Heavens)