INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Danish police said Monday that they were closing their investigation into the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Russia
and Germany, a move dubbed "close to absurd" by the Kremlin.Neighboring Sweden closed its investigation in early February citing a lack of
jurisdiction, meaning only Germany now has an ongoing investigation into the leaks."Based on the investigation, the authorities can conclude
that the sabotage of the pipelines was intentional," Copenhagen police said in a statement."At the same time, it is also assessed that there
is not the necessary basis for pursuing a criminal case in Denmark," it said.Different theories about who is responsible for the sabotage
All have denied involvement.Four large gas leaks were discovered on Nord Stream's two pipelines off the Danish island of Bornholm in
September 2022, with seismic institutes recording two underwater explosions just before.The pipelines had been at the center of geopolitical
tensions as Russia cut gas supplies to Europe in suspected retaliation for Western sanctions over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.While the
leaks were in international waters, two were in Denmark's exclusive economic zone and two in Sweden's.The pipelines were not in operation
when the leaks occurred, but they still contained gas that spewed up through the water and into the atmosphere.Russian energy giant Gazprom
holds a majority stake in the twin pipelines, with the rest owned by German, Dutch and French companies.Denmark, Sweden and Germany have
kept a tight lid on their investigations, which analysts have said was because of the potential diplomatic fallout of what they might
uncover.The decision to close the Danish investigation was immediately criticized by Russia."The situation is close to absurd
On the one hand, they recognize that a deliberate sabotage took place, but on the other hand they are not moving forward," Kremlin spokesman
extensive."It added that it was not in a position to "provide further comments" in the case.When the Swedish probe was closed, the country's
Prosecution Authority said its primary purpose had been to establish whether Swedish citizens were involved and whether Swedish territory
had been used to carry out the act.The authority said nothing had emerged to indicate this.Mats Ljungqvist, the Swedish prosecutor leading
the probe, had previously said the "primary assumption is that a state is behind it."
