Russia requests urgent UN meeting on Nord Stream

According to RIA Novosti on August 23, First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky said that Moscow has requested an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the topic of sabotage of "Nord Stream" on August 26.

“In connection with new information about the detention of a suspect in organizing terrorist attacks on Nord Stream in September 2022, Russia has requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council. We will draw attention to the delays in the German investigation and its lack of transparency to the Security Council,” the Russian deputy permanent representative said.

Earlier on August 21, Sergei Kuznetsov, a citizen of Ukraine, suspected of involvement in the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipeline explosions, was detained in Italy on Germany's orders. The German Attorney General's Office stated that the man "was a member of a group of people who planted an explosive device on a gas pipeline near the island of Bornholm in September 2022." At the same time, the office stressed that the detainee is believed to be one of the coordinators of the operation.

The detained Ukrainian citizen has refused to be extradited to Germany. At his trial, he claimed that he was in Ukraine when the Nord Stream explosion occurred. In Germany, where the suspect must appear in court and stand trial, he could face up to 15 years in prison.

The Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 explosions occurred on September 26, 2022. Germany, Denmark and Sweden do not rule out the possibility of sabotage. The operator of Nord Stream AG reported that the damage was unprecedented, and it was impossible to estimate the time of repair. The Attorney General's Office has opened a case on international terrorism. Moscow has repeatedly requested data on the explosions, but has never received them.