Nord Stream investigation secrecy raises questions: RU Amb. to Denmark
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Russia's ambassador to Denmark suggests that the explosions at the gas pipelines had been meticulously planned.
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A small release from Nord Stream 2, September 28, 2022. (Swedish Coast Guard)
Denmark does not provide any information on the progress and results of the investigation into the explosions at the Nord Stream gas pipelines, which raises concerns, according to Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin.
Barbin said that the Danish side is currently not providing any information on the progress and results of the investigation into gas pipeline sabotage.
He added that there is no cooperation with the Russian side. That said, he suggests that the secrecy of the investigation raises many legitimate questions.
The ambassador went on to say that it was widely accepted that the explosions at the gas pipelines had been meticulously planned.
"However, the preparation of such attacks requires time and direct presence in the area of sabotage, which was carried out in the exclusive economic zones of Denmark and Sweden. The Russian side, unlike the others, did not have permission for any underwater work or research in this area before the gas pipelines were blown up," Barbin noted.
The explosions occurred on September 26 at three of the four strings of Nord Stream 1 and 2 underwater pipelines, which are designed to transport a total of 110 billion cubic meters of Russian gas to Europe each year.
Separate investigations were launched by Germany, Denmark, and Sweden into the suspected sabotage, with German media reporting trust issues among the three EU nations. The Russian prosecutor's office announced an investigation into possible international terrorism.
Moreover, the German investigators probing the explosions that hit Russia's Nord Stream pipelines do not have any evidence at hand proving that Russia is behind the catastrophic blasts that took place in the Baltic Sea in September 2022, German Attorney General Peter Frank said on Saturday Die Welt reported.
Frank revealed that two research ships took water and soil samples, as well as samples from the remains of the pipelines, noting that the whole incident was "comprehensively documented". "We are currently evaluating all of this forensically."
The explosions took place in international waters in the Exclusive Economic Zones of Denmark and Sweden. Both countries are conducting their own investigations. "But we are in contact," said Frank.
However, Denmark and Sweden have barred Russia from investigating the attack. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said this exclusion highlighted the West's double standards.
