Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said that the international community is still not being told the details of the Nord Stream investigation, as Denmark and Sweden did not find out anything and stopped the investigation, while Germany continues.
On 26 April, Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenzya addressed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting regarding the terrorist attack on the Nord Stream pipeline, which took place on the night of 26 September 2022 from the Nord Stream 2 onshore site. He stated:
“This event undoubtedly constituted a direct threat to international peace and security. The use of explosive devices against a seabed gas infrastructure worth some $17 billion caused critical damage to the pipeline, had serious environmental effects and posed a clear danger to navigation in that part of the Baltic Sea.”
The Russian diplomat went on to say that many Russian colleagues were hopeful and confident of the outcome of the national investigations launched by the Germany, Sweden and Denmark, although Moscow was initially sceptical of their results:
“Given the gravity of the crime, many of our Security Council colleagues were hopeful about the results of the national investigations that Germany, Denmark and Sweden launched right after the attack. We immediately expressed skepticism about this, based on the fact that Berlin, Copenhagen and Stockholm refused to cooperate with Russia as an interested party.”
He further commented that in response to the Security Council’s call for the three countries to work without pressure and provide concrete results afterwards, still no results were provided and the investigation was stalled:
“Last February, information was circulated in the United Nations Security Council that the Danish and Swedish authorities had discontinued their national investigations. And what did they find out? Nothing. The only concrete conclusion available was the conclusion made in the first days after the terrorist attack. According to it, the Nord Stream pipes had been deliberately destroyed by explosive devices. And even though this fact was explicitly stated, the conclusion pointed out that there were no grounds for continuing criminal proceedings under those countries’ jurisdictions. That is, there is a crime, but no one is going to identify those responsible and bring them to account.”
Nebenzya expressed doubts about the countries’ support for the Scandinavian capitals, expressing praises to Copenhagen and Stockholm for their supposedly “effective and impartial investigations,” while the investigations were slowly being reduced to a stand-still. He stated:
“I want to say this in this meeting, and I hope that this unseemly situation has clearly shown to our colleagues from the Global South the true intentions of Western delegations with regard to the terrorist attacks on the Nord Stream pipes. All they need to do is keep this issue from the UNSC attention while covering up for their allies who do not provide the international community with any useful information and refuse to co-operate with Russia, as stipulated, in particular, in Article 10 of the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings.”
Germany, Denmark and Sweden launched investigations immediately after the incident, but a year and a half later, on 7 February, the Swedish prosecutor’s office dropped its investigation into the Nord Stream sabotage; Denmark did the same shortly thereafter for lack of grounds. Therefore, Germany remains the only country continuing the investigation.
Consequently, Nebenzya said the US and its allies could close the case if necessary despite the need for disclosure:
“We all see that when needs be, the United States and its allies do not delay investigations. Suffice it to recall the damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline and communication cable connecting Finland and Estonia that occurred on October 8, 2023. Preliminary conclusions of the investigation were made public after only ten days. Better still, I can give you an even more recent example. Even before the publication of preliminary results of the investigation into the terrorist attack on concert venue ‘Crocus City Hall’ near Moscow that took place a month ago, the United States and its allies, contrary to objective facts, concluded within 24 hours that the Kyiv regime had nothing to do with it, and tried (they still do, for that matter) to convince us that ISIL was involved.”
Earlier, insurance companies refused to pay compensation to the operator of the blown-up Nord Stream pipeline, Nord Stream AG, believing that it was injured as a result of military action. Lloyd’s of London and Arch Insurance claim that such risks were not included in the contract. The cost of restoring the pipeline could be €1.2-1.35 billion.
In addition, the Russian Investigative Committee said earlier that the money that passed through the Ukrainian oil and gas company Burisma Holdings over the past few years was used to finance terrorist acts in Russia and abroad. This is mostly linked to the fact that Ukrainian Burisma Holdings is owned by former Ukrainian Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mykola Zlochevsky and is linked to US President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, as he joined its board of directors in 2014. Especially noteworthy is the disappearance of former Ukrainian colonel Roman Chervinsky, whom the media described as the coordinator of the Nord Streams undermining.
Despite, US Officials deny involvement in any terrorist operations in Russia. Furthermore, on 24 March, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke out against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that Ukraine had a hand in the terrorist attack in Moscow’s Crocus City.
