COPENHAGEN, Denmark (Washington Insider Magazine)— Swedish prime minister announced, due to investigative confidentiality, her nation cannot discuss with Russia the specifics of its investigation into undersea explosions that damaged two significant gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea last month.
Regarding the explosion and ruptures that occurred in international waters off the Baltic coast of Sweden but within its exclusive economic zone, Magdalena Andersson stated, “In Sweden, there is secrecy around preliminary investigation and that also applies in this case.”
The explosions caused damage to the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which was Germany’s major gas supply route until Russia cut off export at the end of August, ABC NEWS reported. Furthermore, they harmed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was never put into operation since Germany stopped the certification process just before Ukraine was invaded by Russia in February. Huge volumes of methane, a strong greenhouse gas, were released into the atmosphere as a result of the ruptured pipelines.
In formal capacity in a letter dated October 6, Russia asked the Swedish government to be a part of its investigation.
The domestic security agency of Sweden stated last week in its preliminary report that its investigation had increased the suspicions of significant sabotage as the reason for the explosions. Evidence at the location has been confiscated, the prosecutor in Sweden incharge of the probe said.
According to the Swedish Security Service, the investigation proved that “detonations” had damaged the pipes extensively. When the four leaks off Denmark and Sweden initially came to attention, the authorities stated that explosions had already sounded nearby.
Swedish prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist stated in a separate statement that seizures at the site of the crime would now be investigated. Ljungqvist, who oversaw the first inquiry, gave no identification of the seized evidence.
Danish authorities stayed tight-lipped about the investigation. TV2, Denmark broadcaster reported from the scene that ships from the Danish and German navies were there.
Federal prosecutors in Germany who investigate crimes involving national security have also launched an investigation into unidentified people on the grounds that they may have intentionally caused an explosion and engaged in anti-constitutional sabotage.
The German investigation occurs after the Swedish or Danish investigations, although both are conducted within the purview of the European Union.
An attack on the energy supply might have an impact on both Germany’s domestic and foreign security, said the German federal prosecutors. Authorities said on Sunday that two German boats had sailed out to assess the leaks in the region.The United States and its allies fiercely denied Vladimir Putin’s allegations that the West was sabotaging the pipelines.
