The Kremlin said on Tuesday that investigations into the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea appeared to have been mounted with the intention of falsely blaming Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “elementary logic” shows that the damage to the pipeline was a blow to Russian interests. He said the investigation was being conducted “secretly” and without Moscow’s involvement.
Swedish and Danish authorities are investigating four holes in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines.
“The main thing is that public appearance, according to statements we are hearing from Germany, France and Denmark: this investigation was inherently set up to place the blame on Russia,” he said.
Damage to pipelines has become a major flash point in the Ukraine crisis.
Four of the three Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, the biggest routes for Russian gas to Europe, were ruptured in the Baltic Sea last month. Moscow said the United States was the beneficiary of the accidents, while Washington denied any involvement.
A preliminary investigation of damage to Nord Stream pipelines in the Danish part of the Baltic Sea showed the leaks were caused by “powerful explosions”, Copenhagen police said in a statement on Tuesday.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said last week that Russia needed permission for its ships to conduct investigations into explosions that damaged Nord Stream pipelines.
Source: CNN Brasil
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