Nord Stream, Russia | Kremlin: Nord Stream investigation is meant to blame Russia
– Based on statements heard from Germany, France and Denmark, this investigation is tailored in advance to place the blame on Russia. It is absurd, says Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday.
– Russia would not have blown up its own pipeline, he insists and adds that Russia should be allowed to participate.
– We can only regret that this entire investigation is being conducted in a very, very closed way, without Russia, which is one of the pipeline’s owners, participating, he says.
Russia has accused Western countries of being behind the explosion at the two pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2.
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Examined the pipelines
Journalists from the Swedish newspaper The Express has, with the help of Trond Larsen of the Norwegian company Blueye Robotics, investigated the area with an underwater drone.
At a depth of 80 metres, there are large channels in the seabed and pieces that look like broken pipe parts. At least 50 meters of the pipeline is gone or buried under the seabed, writes newspaper.
– It is an extreme force that is needed to bend thick metal in this way, says Larsen about the images.
The area was initially blocked off, but the restrictions have now been lifted, so Expressen has been able to send an underwater drone down to the site.
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Danish investigation
On the same day, Danish police reported that the investigation they have carried out on the spot confirms that the damage to the pipeline was caused by powerful explosions. The inspections were carried out in collaboration with the Danish security service PET.
According to the police, they must now be set up and investigative team together with PET. However, it is too early to say whether it is possible to carry out an international investigation together with Sweden and Germany, according to the police.
Both Nord Stream 1 and 2 began leaking outside the Danish island of Bornholm at the end of September. Experts quickly to damage that may be caused by explosions, not earthquakes or other natural phenomena. Eventually it was determined that the pipelines leaked in four different places, two of which are in the Swedish economic zone and two in the Danish economic zone.
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Russian charges
Russian authorities accuse Western countries of investigating the Nord Stream explosions in a way that blames Russia.
– Based on statements heard from Germany, France and Denmark, this investigation is tailored in advance to place the blame on Russia. It is absurd, says Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
– Russia would not have blown up its own pipeline, he insists and adds that Russia should be allowed to participate.
Russia has accused Western countries of being behind the explosion at the two pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2.
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Not in operation
Both gas pipelines were built to bring gas from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea. None of them were in operation when the explosions happened, but they contained large amounts of gas, and the leaks have led to large emissions of greenhouse gases.
Swedish authorities announced on October 6 that they had collected evidence in an underwater investigation and that the investigations support the suspicion that the pipelines have been subjected to sabotage.
Nord Stream 1 is constructed of twelve meter long sections which are welded together. The outer diameter is 1.4 metres, and the pipeline is surrounded by a concrete cover which is up to one decimetre thick. The force of the explosion, which tore the pipe to shreds, was so strong that it had a magnitude of 2.3 on seismological measurements.
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(© NTB)