A sabotage 'cannot be ruled out' about the recent Nord Stream gas leaks, the Finnish foreign minister said Wednesday in an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency.
'Sabotage cannot be ruled out, but this needs to be investigated as a criminal matter. The timing as Poland unveiled its Baltic Stream pipeline of the leaks is a reminder – if it was done on purpose – of how careful we need to be and how vulnerable we are,' Pekka Haavisto said.
On Tuesday, Denmark's energy agency confirmed the detection of three leaks on Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines.
The Russia-owned Nord Stream 2 pipeline, originating in Russia and passing under the Baltic Sea to Germany, was constructed to double the volume of gas. However, as soon as construction finished, Germany decided to halt operations after the start of Russia's war on Ukraine.
Russia halted flow from the Nord Stream 1 pipeline on Aug. 31.
By Jo Harper
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr