Denmark has dropped its investigation into the explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines carrying Russian gas to Germany.
It became the second nation to do so after Sweden also closed a separate probe.
Denmark’s police said in a statement, “There is not sufficient grounds to pursue a criminal case in Denmark … and therefore the Copenhagen Police has decided to conclude the criminal investigation of the explosions.”
Police added that they believe there was deliberate sabotage of the gas lines.
Denmark’s investigation was one of three into the explosions.
Sweden ended its probe on February 7, 2024, on the grounds that it has no jurisdiction.
It said that it lacked jurisdiction in the case, stating that the investigation’s primary purpose was to establish whether Sweden or its citizens somehow were involved.
Swedish officials also said that they handed over to Germany “material that can be used as evidence in the German investigation.”
The multi-billion dollar Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines transporting gas under the Baltic Sea were ruptured by a series of blasts in the Swedish and Danish economic zones in September 2022.
This resulted in the release of vast amounts of methane into the air.
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline was Russia’s main natural gas supply route to Germany until Russia cut off supplies at the end of August 2022.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline never entered service because Germany suspended its certification process shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine in February of that year.
The blasts happened as Europe attempted to wean itself off Russian energy sources following the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and contributed to tensions that followed the start of the war.
Russia and the West, at loggerheads over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February that year, have pointed fingers at one another. Each has denied any involvement and no one has taken responsibility.
Beyond their geopolitical impact, the Nord Stream pipeline leaks were a huge environmental disaster with local wildlife affected and huge volumes of methane discharged into the Baltic Sea in what analysts believe could be the single largest release of methane due to human activity.
Nonetheless, the German government is “very interested” in getting to the bottom of the blasts that ruptured the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022.
A spokesperson made this disclosure in Berlin, after Denmark became the latest country to end its probe into the matter.
Kremlin Responds To Denmark’s Decision
The Kremlin responded to Denmark’s decision to drop its investigation into the 2022 Nord Stream 2 pipeline explosions, saying it was “close to absurdity.”
Kremlin Spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov said that Denmark had recognised that the blasts had been an act of premeditated sabotage but had decided not to go further with the investigation anyway because the case involved Copenhagen’s close allies.
“On the one hand, there was a deliberate act of sabotage and on the other hand there has been no progress” in the investigation. “The situation is so obvious that one can only express absolute astonishment,” he said.
He added that Denmark had refused requests to provide information about its investigation.
On the other hand, Kenneth Øhlenschlæger Buhl of the Royal Danish Defense College told a news agency that Denmark’s decision to close the investigation was expected.
“The Swedes said they had a fairly good idea of who was behind it but have no jurisdiction over those they wanted to talk to,” Øhlenschlæger Buhl said.
He added that the Danes are saying “the same, just slightly different words.”
READ ALSO: The Weight Of Political Decisions Made Oceans Away Hangs On Ukraine’s Future
