Russia summons envoys from Denmark, Germany and Sweden over Nord Stream gas pipeline probe
The Russian Foreign Ministry has summoned the German, Danish and Swedish ambassadors in connection with an investigation into leaks at the Nord Stream gas pipelines. The envoys of Germany, Denmark and Sweden have been summoned to express Russia’s “disappointment” at the absence of a response to requests by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to involve Russian officials and energy giant Gazprom in the investigation conducted by Berlin, Copenhagen and Stockholm. The Russian Foreign Ministry’s decision comes as those nations have launched an investigation into leaks reported in Nord Stream gas pipelines in September.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow will assume that Germany, Denmark and Sweden are trying to hide information or cover for the perpetrators if they refuse to allow the involvement of Russian experts in the investigation. It noted that Russia will not recognize “any pseudo-results” of the investigation into the Nord Stream gas pipeline leak if Russian officers are not involved in the investigation. The Russian Foreign Ministry said media reports have claimed that other nations, including the United States, have been involved in the investigation of a gas pipeline leak.
Putin calls “sabotage” of Nord Stream gas pipelines “an act of international terrorism”
Earlier on September 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the “sabotage” of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines as an “act of international terrorism”. Speaking at the plenary session of the Russian Energy Week International Forum, Putin said the “sabotage” of gas pipelines was aimed at “undermining” energy security across the continent. He described the attack on the Nord Stream pipeline as an “extremely dangerous precedent” which he stressed showed that every important piece of transport, energy or communication infrastructure is at risk, regardless of its location and management.
Germany begins an investigation into suspected sabotage of gas pipelines
On October 10, German prosecutors opened an investigation into suspected sabotage of two gas pipelines, according to the AP. Notably, the pipelines were built to bring Russian gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea. Underwater explosions in September ruptured the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. In addition, the explosions in the sea also affected the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which has not been put into service since Germany suspended its certification process. According to prosecutors, they have ample evidence to suggest that the gas lines were damaged by at least intentional detonations. In the past, Denmark and Sweden have suspected that explosives were used to carry out an intentional act of sabotage in the gas pipelines.