German media disclosed last week that prosecutors had identified a Ukrainian diving instructor as the prime suspect in the Nord Stream sabotage and had issued an arrest warrant to Poland.
However, Polish prosecutors informed Reuters that the suspect had already left the country before Germany added his name to a wanted persons database.
According to RIA Novosti, Oleg Tyapkin, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's European department, criticized the German investigation, suggesting it would likely close without identifying those responsible.
"We have raised the issue of Germany's and other relevant countries' compliance with their obligations under UN anti-terrorist conventions. We have formally issued bilateral complaints on this matter, including to Germany," Tyapkin stated.
The Nord Stream pipelines, which supplied much of Russia’s natural gas to Germany, were partially destroyed on September 26, 2022, in an underwater explosion in the Baltic Sea. The project had long faced criticism from Eastern European and Western nations, which warned of its geopolitical implications, particularly the bypassing of Eastern Europe in gas transit.
Allegations of Polish involvement
Polish officials have vehemently denied any involvement in the attack, following allegations reported in German media. Poland’s presidential aide, Mieszko Pawlak, dismissed claims of Polish and Ukrainian collusion as "completely groundless" during an interview with Polsat, as reported by the state news agency PAP.
This comes after former German intelligence chief August Hanning recently suggested in an interview with German daily Die Welt that there might have been an agreement between the presidents of Poland and Ukraine to carry out the sabotage.
Radio Poland's Marcin Matuszewski has the details on Hanning's unfounded claims and Polish government's reactions in his audio report - available in our player (red button above and on the left).
On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal published a report which said that the sabotage was funded by private businessmen and overseen by a top Ukrainian general.
(jh/mm)
Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters