“We are waiting for clarifications from the United States”: how Russia intends to achieve an international investigation into the explosions at Nord Stream

The West wants the topic of explosions on the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines to go into the sand, said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

“We see their desire, as they say, not to focus too much on this issue and gradually make sure that this topic goes into the sand.

We will continue to work to prevent them from doing this," Peskov stressed.

In turn, the head of the Russian delegation at the talks in Vienna on military security and arms control, Konstantin Gavrilov, said that Moscow was waiting for clarification from Washington in connection with sabotage at Nord Stream.

“We also expect clarifications from the United States in connection with the explosions on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, which dealt a blow to the energy security of Europe,” he said.

Earlier, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya, during a meeting of the Security Council, requested by the Russian Federation in connection with the situation around gas pipelines, said that Denmark, Sweden and Germany are shielding the United States in their investigations into the explosions at Nord Stream.

“The investigations carried out by the Scandinavian states and Germany are not only non-transparent, but, as it is already quite obvious, they are aimed solely at covering their tracks and shielding the older American brother.

We are not allowed to see them and all our requests are arrogantly ignored,” Nebenzya said.

However, according to him, in the case of undermining the Nord Stream, neither the motive of the crime, nor its perpetrator, nor the way in which it was committed is in doubt.

The Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN recalled the sensational investigation by Seymour Hersh, which indicates that the decision to blow up the pipelines was made by US President Joe Biden, and carried out by American divers under the cover of NATO exercises BALTOPS 22 and with the support of the Norwegian Navy.

“The depth of information that he (Hersh.

) owns is amazing.

And his previous professional experience and impeccable journalistic reputation leave no doubt that the American journalist is telling the truth,” Nebenzya said.

As he said, with such evidence, no lawyer would undertake to defend the United States, "and there would be no doubt in the jury's verdict."

“But we are not here to arrange a trial in the Security Council.

As you know, we submitted a draft UN Security Council resolution instructing the Secretary General to conduct an independent international investigation, to verify the facts cited by Hersh and other independent journalists.

We are forced to do this, as we have serious doubts about the effectiveness, transparency and impartiality of the investigations currently being conducted in a number of national jurisdictions,” Nebenzia stressed.

• Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Vasily Nebenzya

• AP

• © Julie Jacobson

He stated that Russia does not see the desire for cooperation on the part of partners.

In addition, Moscow is struck by the "degree of cynicism and confidence in its own impunity" with which the attacks on Nord Stream were carried out, Nebenzya said.

“Before, before blowing up foreign pipelines owned by states with which the US is not at war, they did not go down.

And now this day has come.

And he may be the harbinger of an era in which cross-border and transcontinental communications will become a legitimate target for operations aimed at weakening certain states, he said.

“The chance that it will come is extremely high if those responsible for undermining the Nord Stream are not found and punished accordingly.”

Nebenzya also stressed that the countries that were behind the blowing up of pipelines should compensate the affected states for the damage caused in the manner prescribed by international law, as well as "elementary principles of justice."

"Clearly Not Enough"

In turn, the Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the UN, Zhang Jun, said during a meeting of the Security Council that if it is not possible to find out the reasons for the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines and identify the perpetrators, this will send a "wrong signal" and allow those who bear "base plans" , to believe that they can "do whatever they want."

“Conducting an objective, impartial, professional investigation, announcing its results as early as possible, as well as identifying those involved in this is closely related not only to the incident itself, but to the security of global transnational infrastructure facilities and the interests and concerns of each country,” Zhang Jun said. .

According to him, the UN, as the most authoritative and representative international body, can play an active and constructive role in conducting an international investigation and ensuring the security of transnational infrastructure facilities.

“China approves the draft resolution proposed by Russia in the UN Security Council, and also considers it very important to authorize an international investigation into sabotage on the Nord Stream gas pipelines,” the representative of the PRC said.

He recalled that recently the world has witnessed a large number of details and reports of incidents on gas pipelines and "this picture is a real shock."

“Looking at such detailed materials and strong evidence, one simple phrase that this is “pure fraud” or “outright fake” is clearly not enough to answer questions and concerns from around the world, and attempts to avoid today's meeting by no means mean that the truth can be hidden.

We expect relevant parties to provide convincing explanations.

Such a request is quite legitimate and fair,” said Zhang Jun.

However, neither the United States nor its allies have yet provided any explanation.

In particular, the adviser to the US permanent mission to the UN, Jim Kelly, only called the accusations of involvement in the Nord Stream explosions a lie, and also brought another accusation against Russia related to the events in Ukraine.

“Deliberate actions to damage critical infrastructure are unacceptable,” he said.

“However, let me be clear and clear: the allegations that the United States was involved in this act of sabotage are completely false.

The United States was not involved in any way,” he said.

Kelly claims that the "competent authorities" in Denmark, Germany and Sweden are investigating the incident in a "comprehensive, transparent and impartial manner."

"UN investigation resources should be reserved for cases where states are unwilling or unable to conduct a genuine investigation," the US spokesman said.

He also said that Russia is allegedly "once again" abusing its position as a permanent member of the Security Council, using the meeting in the Security Council as a platform for spreading "disinformation and conspiracy theories."

“Let's understand why we are actually here today at the (UN Security Council.

).

Later this week - as we approach the anniversary (the beginning of the conflict.

) - the General Assembly will discuss the consequences of Russia's illegal and full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Today's meeting is a clear attempt to divert attention from this, Kelly said.

“Russia desperately wants to change the subject.”

• Nord Stream 2

• © Nord Stream 2 / Nikolai Ryutin

In turn, at a meeting of the UN Security Council, Thomas Phipps, an employee of the British Permanent Mission to the World Organization, also condemned the incident on the gas pipelines, but did not forget to repeat the accusation of his American colleague against Russia.

“The United Kingdom condemns acts of sabotage directed at the Nord Stream pipeline.

However, we are not clear why, five months later, Russia suddenly took up this issue with such urgency… We are not sure that today’s Russian initiative or its calls for the establishment of a UN commission of inquiry are anything more than an attempt to divert attention from its ongoing aggression in Ukraine ", he said.

For its part, the UN reported that they could not verify the allegations of sabotage at Nord Stream.

“The United Nations is unable to verify or confirm any allegations relating to these incidents, we are awaiting the results of ongoing investigations,” said UN Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo.

According to her, the parties should avoid "any unfounded accusations" that could further exacerbate already high tensions in the region and potentially make it difficult to "search for the truth."

DiCarlo, as well as representatives of the United States and Great Britain, connected the attacks with the events in Ukraine.

“While it is still unclear what exactly happened under the waters of the Baltic Sea in September 2022, one thing is certain: whatever caused the incident, its consequences are among the many risks associated with the invasion of Ukraine,” said the Deputy General Secretary.

"Just nonsense"

As Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies and Forecasts of the Peoples' Friendship University, member of the Russian Civic Chamber Nikita Danyuk, noted, the British statement, as well as the silence of other Western countries, including those affected by the Nord Stream attacks, indicate that they are absolutely dependent on Washington and are afraid to “say at least one objectionable word about what happened,” not to mention condemning the role of the United States in sabotage.

“It is obvious that in Europe there is not only sovereignty, but generally no respect for their own security, including environmental and energy.

It is Russia that brings this topic up for discussion, responds to the unfounded statements of the United States about non-involvement.

The West can talk about alleged disinformation as much as it likes, ignoring the specific facts provided, including by American investigators.

But to keep silent about all this is simply nonsense, ”the expert said in a commentary to RT.

At the same time, the position of the UN suggests that this platform is becoming more biased, Danyuk believes.

“The influence of the Western coalition led by the United States prevailed there to a greater extent.

The UN, judging by the statements, does not intend to conduct an international investigation into the explosions of gas pipelines.

And this is very strange, since the organization often deals with smaller incidents.

And the structure decided to actually ignore the act of international terrorism,” Danyuk said.

According to him, at the same time, the West is "eloquently silent" because it does not want the truth to come out that the principles of international law are indeed absolutely alien to the United States.

A similar position is shared by political scientist Alexander Asafov.

According to him, Washington is not interested in proclaiming the true culprits of the Nord Stream terrorist attack, and the rest "do not have enough sovereignty to talk about it."

“The picture is clear: a crime of a grave destructive nature has been committed, several accomplices were involved in organizing it, and there are also those who knew about this crime, but kept silent.

Now the task of the West is to hush up this matter in any way.

Not only the Hersh investigation and the data of the Russian Federation speak of the guilt of the United States and its allies, but also the attempts of the West to push this topic out of the agenda, ”the expert said in a conversation with RT.

According to him, otherwise Washington and its allies will have to admit to carrying out open terrorist activities.

“If this happens, then, of course, it will affect the image of the head of the White House, who began his election tour, and the image of the country.

This can raise a lot of questions about the reliability of the state as a trade, military and political partner, ”the analyst stated.

• The White house

• Gettyimages.ru

• © Walter Bibikow

In turn, RISS expert Sergei Ermakov explained in a commentary to RT the attacks on Russia by the United States and Great Britain.

“Washington and London want to blur this issue with such statements, to reduce its significance.

The United States and Western countries have a very rich experience in this.

The same investigations that are being conducted in Germany, Denmark and Sweden are just window dressing designed to justify the actions of Western countries.

There will be no real trial.

Now attempts are being made to completely remove this issue from the agenda, despite the activity of Russia.

But on the side of the Russian Federation, China, as well as other countries, understand the essence of what is happening, so the West will not be able to hide what happened, ”the expert concluded.