The top spy of Russia on Friday has stated that Moscow had intelligence showing that the West was behind what he said was a “terrorist act” against the Nord Stream gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea.
A sharp fall in pressure on both pipelines was registered on September 26, and seismologists detected explosions, triggering a wave of speculation about who might have sabotaged one of Russia’s most important energy corridors.
The EU said that it suspected sabotage caused the damage to the Gazprom-led Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in Swedish and Danish waters. Whereas the White House has dismissed Russian allegations it was behind the incidents.
Meanwhile, the director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), was shown telling reporters on state television that, “We have materials that point to a Western trace in the organization and implementation of these terrorist acts.”
The spy chief’s comments are the most direct public blames against the West from a senior Russian official. He did not say what evidence Russia had, but said the West was trying to hide who carried out the attack.
At the same time, Naryshkin said, “The West is doing everything to obscure the true perpetrators and organizers of this international terrorist act.” The SVR is the direct successor to the once mighty First Directorate of the Soviet-era KGB.
Moreover, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin on Thursday has said the “unprecedented sabotage” against the Nord Stream gas pipelines was “an act of international terrorism.”
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has refused to comment on Naryshkin’s comments but said there needed to be a complete international probe into the incidents.
The energy minister of Sweden on Friday has said that it was “very likely” that the attack on the pipelines was done on purpose by a state doctor.