Copenhagen abandons the investigations.

The Danish police announced, Monday February 26, that they were closing their investigation into the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September 2022, considering that they did not "have the necessary bases" for prosecution, a decision "close to the absurd" according to the Kremlin. 

In addition to Denmark, two other investigations had been opened in Germany and Sweden, but the Swedish prosecutor's office closed its investigations at the beginning of February without any prosecution, judging that the facts were not within its jurisdiction.

The investigation is still ongoing in Germany. 

"Based on the investigation, the authorities can conclude that the sabotage of the gas pipelines was intentional. At the same time, they believe that there is no basis for continuing a criminal investigation in Denmark," wrote the Danish police in a press release. 

The Kremlin denounces a decision “close to the absurd”

"The situation is close to the absurd. On the one hand, they recognize that deliberate sabotage took place, but on the other hand, they are not moving forward," the spokesperson for the Kremlin, Dmitri Peskov.  

Dmitri Peskov previously described Sweden's decision to close its investigation as "remarkable". 

“It will be interesting to see how rigorously the German authorities approach this investigation,” he said in early February. 

On September 26, 2022, four huge gas leaks preceded by underwater explosions took place a few hours apart on Nord Stream 1 and 2. These pipes, which connect Russia to Germany, carry most of the Russian gas to Europe. 

The gas pipelines were not in operation at the time of the leaks.

Moscow had already stopped delivering gas via Nord Stream 1, against a backdrop of energy standoff with European countries which support Ukraine.

Nord Stream 2 never entered service.  

The explosions occurred near the Danish island of Bornholm but "outside Danish territorial waters", the Danish statement said. 

Also read: Ukrainian spies or the importance of the shadow war

Collaboration of Germany, Denmark and Sweden 

Denmark, Germany and Sweden collaborated in the investigation, described as "complex and in-depth" and also carried out in cooperation with the Danish intelligence service (PET). 

“The PET continues to monitor the evolution of the threat and, in collaboration with other competent authorities, continually implements measures deemed necessary to protect Denmark's critical infrastructure,” the terse press release underlined. 

Investigative media have tried to elucidate the mechanisms of a technically ultra-complex operation, by calling on reconstruction expeditions, some with underwater drones, experts, former secret agents and leads that lead from Warsaw to Crimea via Moldova. 

Both Ukraine, Russia and the United States, singled out in these investigations, have vigorously denied any involvement. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in particular, has repeatedly denied that his country could be involved.

“I would never do that,” he told German daily Bild last June, adding that he “would like to see proof.” 

Also readSabotage of Nord Stream: the travel agency, the yacht and the Ukrainian track

Heavily dependent on Russian gas before the war in Ukraine, Germany had to quickly replace it with other suppliers, at the cost of soaring energy costs in Europe's largest economy. 

With AFP 

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