Page 11 - FSUOGM Week 42 2022

FSUOGM POLICY FSUOGM

Kremlin says Nord Stream probes

designed to blame Russia

RUSSIA THE Kremlin has claimed that probes underway the same area.
into the suspected explosions that damaged the A preliminary probe by Copenhagen has
The Kremlin has Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines under the Baltic concluded that the leaks were indeed caused by
claimed the US Sea are designed with the intention of falsely “powerful explosions.” While sabotage is broadly
is responsible for blaming Moscow. accepted as the cause both in Russia and in the
sabotaging the “Elementary logic” shows that blowing up the West, only Moscow has openly accused any
pipelines. pipelines was not in Moscow’s interests, Kremlin potential perpetrators: the US and its allies.
spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on October 18, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander
according to Reuters. He said the investigations Novak said last week that Moscow required
in Europe were taking place “secretively” with- permission for its vessels to carry out investi-
out Russian involvement. Sweden and Danish gations into the explosions.
authorities are taking the lead in investigating The damage to the pipelines has had no
the suspected sabotage. impact on European gas supply, as Nord
“The main thing is that the way it looks in Stream 1 was closed down by Russia in late
public, according to statements we are hearing August, with Gazprom citing technical prob-
from Germany, from France and from Den- lems caused by sanctions, and Nord Stream
mark: this investigation was set up inherently to 2 was never brought into operation. Russia
put the blame on Russia,” Peskov said. has suggested that the remaining undam-
Three of the four strings that make up the aged string at Nord Stream 2 could be used to
Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines were ruptured last flow gas to Europe. But this would require the
month, all on the same day, immediately leading pipeline getting certified in Germany – a pro-
to suspicions that sabotage was the cause. These cess that Berlin put a halt to in late February,
suspicions were corroborated when Swedish days before Moscow launched its invasion of
seismologists said explosions had occurred in Ukraine. ™

Week 42 20•October•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P11