Berlin sharing info about Nord Stream attack with Moscow a lie: Moscow
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The Russian Foreign Ministry denies allegations made by Germany that the exchange of factual information regarding the Nord Stream bombings were ongoing with Moscow.
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A Russian construction worker smokes in Portovaya Bay some 170 kms (106 miles) north-west from St. Petersburg, Russia, on April 9, 2010, during a ceremony marking the start of Nord Stream pipeline construction (AP)
Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman, said Berlin's claims of sharing information with Moscow regarding the Nord Stream bombings "are a lie."
Oleg Tyapkin, the director of the Third European Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated in an interview with Sputnik that Russia has formally lodged a complaint with Germany concerning the investigation into the Nord Stream bombing.
Russia is also seeking discussions with Germany to ensure it meets its international obligations in combating terrorism.
"They [the German authorities] do not provide the facts they have on this investigation to the Russian side, although they are obliged to do so," Zakharova said, relaying Russia's insistence that bilateral consultations for the matter are held under agreed-on regulations.
"They, by the way, are prescribed in the UN anti-terrorist conventions," she added.
The Russian senior diplomat noted that Germany's responses to all of Russia's inquiries about the Nord Stream attacks consist of vague, formal statements, with none of the documents providing any substantive information.
On Monday, German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sebastian Fischer reported that Berlin is sharing data with Russia regarding the Nord Stream attacks but is not disclosing details on the investigation's preliminary findings.
Yesterday, Russian Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy emphasized that Germany must share its findings from the investigation into the Nord Stream 2 attack with the UN Security Council. "It's its obligation and it's something that we expect to be done in the nearest future," he said.
Moscow demands transparency
Russia has intensified its calls for Germany to provide full transparency in its investigation into the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticizing Berlin for allegedly concealing facts about the incident and insisting that Germany must stop "categorically refusing to present the facts that it couldn’t have failed to discover."
In an interview with Izvestia published on Monday, Lavrov highlighted that when information formally requested by Russia is withheld but later appears in news articles, it raises "suspicions that all of this is staged."
He also said this insinuates that the entire operation was "designed to somehow divert public opinion" from the "true perpetrators, culprits, and clients [of the attack]." He also criticized Germany for "silently accepting" the loss of a long-term energy supply crucial for the country’s development.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has taken official steps, with Foreign Ministry official Oleg Tyapkin confirming that Moscow has filed a formal complaint with Berlin over its handling of the investigation. Russia has urged Germany and other affected countries to fulfill their obligations under UN anti-terrorist conventions.
Tyapkin noted that the German authorities have issued a warrant for only one suspect, a Ukrainian citizen allegedly part of a group from the same country. However, he pointed out that German media have continued to suggest that the suspects might not be linked to any particular nation.
He warned that it seems likely the investigation "will be closed without identifying the true culprits behind the Nord Stream bombings," a result that Russia would not accept.
As the investigation continues, Moscow has vowed to formally insist on a transparent international inquiry into the bombings, with Lavrov emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency in uncovering the truth.
