Russia fails with advance to UN investigation

Moscow’s draft resolution missed the necessary majority before the UN Security Council. Only China and Brazil agreed with Russia.

A photo from the Danish Defense Command shows the Nord Stream 2 gas leak in September 2022.Danish Defense Command/dpa

Russia failed with its resolution to investigate the explosions on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 Baltic Sea pipelines in the United Nations Security Council. In a vote by the most powerful UN body, only China and Brazil voted with Moscow, while the other 12 countries abstained. At least nine “yes” votes are required for acceptance – without a veto by one of the five permanent members.

A majority of nine votes would have been required to pass the text. In addition, the five permanent Security Council members China, France, Great Britain, Russia and the USA have a right of veto.

The decision would have called on UN Secretary-General António Guterres to launch an independent international investigation into the alleged act of sabotage. Some Council members abstained because they viewed Russia’s move as a political maneuver.

Russia wants independent investigation into Nord Stream attack

In the draft resolution, Russia called on the United Nations to conduct a “comprehensive, transparent and impartial investigation” into the September explosions. Moscow explained that Russia had been excluded from the investigations initiated by Germany, Denmark and Sweden. There are “great and well-founded doubts” about the objectivity of the national investigation, said Russian ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebensia.

However, other members of the UN Security Council rejected this account. US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said Russia’s sole aim was to discredit the ongoing investigation into the blasts. Other diplomats accused Russia of wanting to divert attention from its war of aggression against Ukraine.

Russia blames US and UK for attack

At the end of September 2022, a total of four leaks in the two gas pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2 were discovered as a result of explosions near the Danish Baltic Sea island of Bornholm. The authorities assume sabotage. It is unclear who is responsible for this.

At the beginning of March, several media reported that the trail might lead to Ukraine. The New York Times reported that a pro-Ukrainian group may have been behind the detonations. Ukraine has denied any involvement in the blasts.

Germany, Sweden and Denmark have started investigations. German politicians recently warned against hasty conclusions and warned to wait for the investigations to end. Moscow, on the other hand, blamed the “Anglo-Saxons” – that is, the British and the Americans – shortly after the attack.