UN Security Council turns down request for Nord Stream inquiry

Questions stay over explosions in September that broken gasoline pipelines connecting Russia and Germany.

Russia has did not get the United Nations Safety Council to ask for an impartial inquiry into explosions in September that ruptured the Nord Stream gasoline pipelines connecting Russia and Germany, spewing gasoline into the Baltic Sea.

Solely Russia, China and Brazil voted in favour of the Russian-drafted textual content on Monday, whereas the remaining 12 council members abstained. A decision wants not less than 9 votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, France, america or the UK to cross.

Russia proposed the draft decision final month, simply days earlier than the primary anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine.

“With out an goal and clear worldwide investigation, the reality is not going to be uncovered as to what occurred,” Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia advised the council earlier than the vote.

The pipeline blasts occurred within the unique financial zones of Sweden and Denmark. Final month Sweden, Denmark and Germany mentioned that their very own separate investigations have been nonetheless ongoing and that Russia has been knowledgeable.

In a joint letter to the Safety Council, they mentioned the injury was brought on by “highly effective explosions as a result of sabotage”. The US and NATO have additionally known as the incident “an act of sabotage”.

Most Safety Council members who abstained on Monday mentioned they did so as a result of the nationwide investigations must be allowed to conclude earlier than contemplating whether or not any motion on the UN was wanted.

Russia has complained that it has not been stored knowledgeable in regards to the ongoing nationwide investigations. Moscow has maintained, with out offering proof, that the West was behind the blasts.

“America was not concerned in any manner. Interval,” mentioned deputy US ambassador to the UN Robert Wooden.

He accused Russia of attempting to “discredit the work of ongoing nationwide investigations and prejudice any conclusions they attain that don’t comport to Russia’s predetermined and political narrative”.