The German Federal Criminal Police and the Federal Prosecutor’s Office are dissatisfied.
German investigators accuse Poland of sabotaging the investigation into the explosions of the Nord Stream pipeline – as reported by Politico.
German officials claim that Polish authorities are not executing the European arrest warrant and search warrant issued by the German Federal Court against Volodimir Z., the main suspect accused of the explosions.
An official familiar with the investigation made serious allegations to Welt am Sonntag, claiming that Poland is sabotaging the investigation. Another source referred to it as “obstruction of justice” by Poland.
According to Politico, this is not an unusual stance in Germany.
“The Polish government obviously allowed it to cover up their own involvement in the attacks,” said August Hanning, former head of the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) to Welt am Sonntag. Hanning believes that the Polish president was also aware of the attack plan.
“Operations of this magnitude are inconceivable without the approval of the political leaders of the countries involved,” Hanning said.
Authorities in Poland are “outraged” by the accusations. “The claim that Ukraine carried out this action with Poland’s knowledge is completely unfounded,” said Jacek Siewiera, head of the Polish National Security Bureau, to Welt am Sonntag.
He believes that the accusations and insinuations come from a small circle of “pro-Russian” officials. He stated that Poland is investigating every lead, including the possibility that “Russia was involved in the attack.”
Meanwhile, German investigators have ruled out that the Russians carried out the operation. They say they are certain that the order for the attack came from Valerij Zaluzhnij, former commander of the Ukrainian armed forces.
It seems unlikely that Volodimir Z. will ever have to face the German authorities personally. Ukraine is not required to extradite its citizens to Germany, and the other individuals suspected of conspiracy are likely to have long since hidden somewhere in Ukraine.
