Germany issues initial arrest warrant in connection with Nord Stream explosions, reports say
German prosecutors have reportedly issued the first arrest warrant for a Ukrainian national in connection with the 2022 Nord Stream explosions, according to local media. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The German Federal Public Prosecutor has issued the first arrest warrant related to the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, according to local media reports. The suspect has been identified as Ukrainian national ‘Vladimir Z’. It remains unclear whether the suspect has any connections to Kiev's military or intelligence agencies.
No party has claimed responsibility for the explosions that ruptured the pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September 2022, which led to the suspension of gas supplies from Russia to Germany. The Nord Stream 2 line, which also suffered damage, had not been operational, having been delayed by EU bureaucratic processes.
On Wednesday, German state broadcaster ARD, along with Suddeutsche Zeitung and Die Zeit, reported that Federal Public Prosecutor Jens Rommel issued the initial arrest warrant for the case in early June. Although the suspect has been identified, two of his compatriots, a couple, have reportedly emerged as potential accomplices.
German officials have requested cooperation from their Polish counterparts to locate the suspect, who is believed to have been tracked to an area west of Warsaw before disappearing.
ARD noted that it successfully contacted the suspect via phone on Tuesday, with ‘Vladimir Z’ maintaining that he had no involvement in the sabotage.
The state broadcaster also mentioned that the presumed saboteurs are suspected of having reached the sabotage site aboard a yacht named ‘Andromeda’. However, Polish authorities have claimed that the yacht’s journey was purely for tourism, with the crew not flagged as suspicious.
German prosecutors are reportedly doubtful of the Polish explanation, while Polish officials have informed their German counterparts that CCTV footage of the yacht and its crew has already been deleted.
Despite EU inter-state protocols, Warsaw has allegedly not responded to Berlin's request for assistance regarding Vladimir Z's potential whereabouts.
German media reports indicate that investigators have yet to uncover any definitive evidence linking the suspect directly to the Ukrainian military or intelligence services. Senior officials in Kiev have publicly denied any involvement in the Nord Stream pipeline destruction.
The German prosecutor’s office has chosen not to comment officially on the matter.
Meanwhile, Russian authorities have suggested that the US stands to benefit the most from the disruption of Russian gas supplies to Germany. Moscow has referenced the public criticisms expressed by Washington regarding the Nord Stream project before the pipelines' destruction multiple times.
Additionally, the Kremlin has accused Western nations of obstructing investigations into the blasts.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
No party has claimed responsibility for the explosions that ruptured the pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September 2022, which led to the suspension of gas supplies from Russia to Germany. The Nord Stream 2 line, which also suffered damage, had not been operational, having been delayed by EU bureaucratic processes.
On Wednesday, German state broadcaster ARD, along with Suddeutsche Zeitung and Die Zeit, reported that Federal Public Prosecutor Jens Rommel issued the initial arrest warrant for the case in early June. Although the suspect has been identified, two of his compatriots, a couple, have reportedly emerged as potential accomplices.
German officials have requested cooperation from their Polish counterparts to locate the suspect, who is believed to have been tracked to an area west of Warsaw before disappearing.
ARD noted that it successfully contacted the suspect via phone on Tuesday, with ‘Vladimir Z’ maintaining that he had no involvement in the sabotage.
The state broadcaster also mentioned that the presumed saboteurs are suspected of having reached the sabotage site aboard a yacht named ‘Andromeda’. However, Polish authorities have claimed that the yacht’s journey was purely for tourism, with the crew not flagged as suspicious.
German prosecutors are reportedly doubtful of the Polish explanation, while Polish officials have informed their German counterparts that CCTV footage of the yacht and its crew has already been deleted.
Despite EU inter-state protocols, Warsaw has allegedly not responded to Berlin's request for assistance regarding Vladimir Z's potential whereabouts.
German media reports indicate that investigators have yet to uncover any definitive evidence linking the suspect directly to the Ukrainian military or intelligence services. Senior officials in Kiev have publicly denied any involvement in the Nord Stream pipeline destruction.
The German prosecutor’s office has chosen not to comment officially on the matter.
Meanwhile, Russian authorities have suggested that the US stands to benefit the most from the disruption of Russian gas supplies to Germany. Moscow has referenced the public criticisms expressed by Washington regarding the Nord Stream project before the pipelines' destruction multiple times.
Additionally, the Kremlin has accused Western nations of obstructing investigations into the blasts.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
