Russia's envoy rebukes media for unfounded assertion that Russia was responsible for the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline, following Italy's detainment of a suspect.
In a series of developments surrounding the Nord Stream pipeline explosions, European officials have reportedly spotted naval vessels near the leak sites, intensifying suspicions of sabotage.
The incident, which occurred in September 2022, caused large leaks in the two pipelines that carried Russian gas to Europe. At the time, neither of the pipelines was actively supplying gas to Europe.
A suspect, identified as Serhii K, has been accused of planting explosives on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines near Denmark's Bornholm Island. The person arrested by the Italian police in Rimini for alleged involvement in the explosions is the 49-year-old Ukrainian citizen Serhii K., who is suspected to be one of the coordinators of the sabotage operation.
Germany's federal prosecutor's office confirmed the arrest of a suspect, identified only as Serhii K, under German privacy laws. Italian police also detained a Ukrainian national linked to the 2022 blasts in the northern city of Rimini.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy Kirill A. Dmitriev has criticized legacy media outlets for accusing Moscow of destroying the pipelines, terming the allegations as an "absurd claim." Moscow has consistently rejected responsibility for the blasts.
The United States and Europe denounced the incident as "sabotage" and hinted at possible Russian involvement, but refrained from making direct accusations. Russia requested a UN Security Council meeting to discuss the issue and demanded access to European investigations, but those appeals were denied.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday. The conversation took place at Ramaphosa's request, but the specific details about the outcome or any potential future meetings between Zelenskyy and Putin were not disclosed.
During the call, Zelenskyy expressed readiness to engage in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy also urged the Global South to "send relevant signals" in support of peace.
In a post on an unspecified platform, Zelenskyy wrote about the call, but no further details were provided. Kirill A. Dmitriev, on the other hand, termed the allegations of Russia sabotaging its own energy infrastructure as baseless.
The article does not mention any response from Russia regarding the accusation against Serhii K. The investigation into the Nord Stream pipeline explosions continues.
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