Sputnik quoted Russian Federal Council Vice President Konstantin Kosachev as saying that Russia has no geopolitical or military interests in carrying out sabotage in the Baltic Sea, but NATO may be interested in sabotage to build its forces near Russia's maritime border.
Norwegian police announced on January 31 that they had seized the Norwegian ship and its Russian crew on suspicion of being involved in a cable break in the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Sweden.
Russia has no geopolitical interests, let alone military interests, in carrying out sabotage in the Baltic. This does not give us any advantage. But if we imagine that NATO members themselves are conducting deadly bombings and blaming Russia, we can immediately see the benefits behind that action," Kosachev emphasized.
The deputy chairman of the Russian Federation Council said that NATOs purpose of sabotage at sea pursues a specific goal to justify Russias increased military presence near the maritime border. The global significance is to turn the Baltic Sea into an internal NATO sea area, he noted.
In the latest developments in the cable break, TASS reported that Norway has released the Russian crew on the Silver Dania ship - Troms county police - to inform the Russian Embassy in Oslo.
"Regarding the Embassy's request to detain the Silver Dania and the Russian crew in the Norwegian Economic Zone, a representative of the Troms County Police replied that the Russian citizens were not detained. Police have informed the ship's crew that they can contact the Embassy in Oslo and the Consulate General in Kirkenes. So far, no appeal has been received. The Embassy is closely monitoring the situation," a representative of the Embassy told TASS.
The Norwegian-flagged Silver Dania, operated by an 11- rotation crew, was seized in the Norwegian Economic Zone at the request of Latvia. The crew is suspected of damaging a cable of the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Sweden.
In another development, commenting on the decision of NATO member states to patrol the Baltic Sea by warships and air, Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin told TASS that NATO is trying to turn the Baltic Sea into an internal sea of the alliance, but Russia will do everything to protect its interests.
"This is an effort to turn the Baltic Sea into an internal NATO sea area, limit maritime freedom and impose compliance with Western Russian sanctions under close NATO control. Russia will do everything necessary to protect its interests under international law. Our opponents should not have any illusion about this issue," said Ambassador Barbin.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has previously said the alliance will deploy patrols in the Baltic Sea to protect the marine infrastructure of member states, with the participation of ships and maritime aircraft. He did not specify the number of warships and aircraft participating in the operation.
