Sabotage on Nord Streams: why the investigation will be closed, versions, latest news

The Swedish prosecutor's office plans to close the investigation into sabotage that occurred on the Russian gas pipelines Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 in 2022. About it reports German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung with reference to its own information.

According to the publication, the termination of the investigation by Sweden will not affect the proceedings in Germany, which are being conducted by the federal prosecutor general and the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). According to official information, the investigation into sabotage by the German side continues. This information was also confirmed RBC Prosecutor General's Office of the Federal Republic of Germany. “Our investigation is ongoing. No additional information is currently provided,” the department noted.

Süddeutsche Zeitung clarifies that the completion of the case of pipeline explosions in Sweden could play into the hands of German prosecutors. Thus, Stockholm will now be able to transfer information and material evidence to their German colleagues.

As the German newspaper adds Die Zeit, German law enforcement and investigators are particularly interested in parts of damaged pipes that the Swedish military recovered from the Baltic Sea shortly after gas pipeline explosions in the fall of 2022. Traces of explosives found there are planned to be compared with the one that German experts discovered on the sailing yacht Andromeda. According to the German side, the ship remains an important clue that could lead to the perpetrators of sabotage.

The Swedish prosecutor announced a decision on the investigation into the Nord Stream explosions

Swedish prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist, who is investigating the circumstances of the Nord Stream explosions, announced his speech, during which he plans to make a special statement about the progress of the process. In an interview with a newspaper Expressen he explained that he would make a decision on this case in the near future. At the same time, the prosecutor did not specify whether it was about closing the investigation, pressing charges or requesting detention.

According to the prosecutor's office, Ljungqvist expects to make a statement in the Nord Stream case on Wednesday, February 7.

Germany continues to investigate sabotage at Nord Stream

Earlier, the German Ambassador to Moscow Alexander Graf Lambsdorff said that the investigation into the case of sabotage on the Nord Stream in Germany is being conducted by the office of the Prosecutor General at the Supreme Court in Karlsruhe, and it is strictly confidential. In this regard, German investigators refuse to share its details with both their Russian colleagues and the Bundestag. “They are very independent. They are investigating. When they have results, they will share these results,” the diplomat concluded.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said that Moscow had repeatedly requested information about the details of the investigation, but had never received a response. Nevertheless, he emphasized, Russia awaits with interest Sweden’s verdict on sabotage on the Nord Streams. He noted the importance of the results of the investigation and added that “the organizers, perpetrators and customers of the explosions cannot be left without identification.”

The culprit behind the Nord Stream explosions has not yet been found

On September 26, 2022, explosions occurred on Russian gas pipelines to Europe—Nord Stream and the unlaunched Nord Stream 2—that led to large-scale gas leaks. As a result, only one thread of Nord Stream 2 survived. Russia offered to supply Europe with gas through it, but Germany did not allow the pipeline to be put into operation and considered the pipelines unsuitable for use.

Accidents were recorded in the territorial waters of Sweden and Denmark. The West and Russia called the incident sabotage, and several investigations were launched in Europe. At the same time, Sweden initially refused to share details of the investigation into the incidents with Germany and Denmark, explaining the decision by a high level of secrecy.

Those involved in the explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines have not yet been found. In turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin is confident that the Nord Stream gas pipelines were blown up by the Anglo-Saxons.