Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk made a sharp statement addressing Berlin, calling on Germany to refrain from criminally prosecuting individuals suspected of sabotaging the Russian gas pipelines "Nord Stream 1" and "Nord Stream 2." The remarks by the head of the Polish government came against the backdrop of reports that at least two Ukrainian citizens have already been detained in Germany, whom Berlin considers involved in the sabotage that took place in the autumn of 2022. This was reported by RBK-Ukraine, citing TVP World.

"It is shameful for those who built it, not those who turned it off"

Responding to journalists' questions about how he views Berlin's intention to hold the detainees criminally liable, Tusk stated that Germany "should certainly not prosecute those who, in a situation where their country is under attack, take certain measures." According to him, he does not intend to change his position and believes that "it should be shameful for those who built this pipeline, not for those who turned it off." Thus, Warsaw is effectively legitimizing in the public sphere actions that Berlin classifies as a crime.

Poland's Position: The Project Was a Mistake

Against the backdrop of recent events, Tusk recalled that Poland had long opposed the implementation of the "Nord Stream 2" project and did everything possible to prevent its construction. According to the Prime Minister, Warsaw understood in advance that the gas pipeline would exacerbate Europe's energy dependence on Russian supplies. Regarding Germany, he noted that Berlin "came to this conclusion virtually at the last moment": "Germany had a different opinion at the time. They changed their opinion, but it was already too late".

Chronology of Detentions

Tusk's statement came against the backdrop of an active phase of the investigation. According to the publication, on August 19, another Ukrainian citizen was detained in Croatia, suspected of involvement in the sabotage of the "Nord Streams." Previously, detentions on German territory were also recorded. The media separately raised the question of why Poland did not extradite one of the Ukrainians to Berlin in this case, which adds inter-state legal tension to the process.

Contradictory Data

There is a discrepancy in the details in available sources. RBK-Ukraine uses the formulation "at least two Ukrainian citizens" in the status of those detained in Germany, while TSN focuses on the "arrest of a Ukrainian" (singular), and the publication "Neftegaz" characterizes the situation as an "attempt to prosecute" suspects. That is, the number of participants and their exact legal status (detention vs. arrest) is presented inconsistently in different publications. Furthermore, the "possible role of the CIA" in the destruction of the gas pipelines is mentioned in the news context, however, this version is speculative and not confirmed by official statements by any of the parties, so in the article it is reflected only as a subject of public discussion.

Context and Consequences

Tusk's public support for the suspects intensifies the political conflict between Warsaw and Berlin over the legacy of the "Nord Streams." For Poland, which historically positioned itself as an opponent of the project, the 2022 sabotage became confirmation of its own correctness in energy policy. For Germany, on the contrary, this is a matter of the rule of law and international cooperation in the sphere of justice. The further development of the case will depend on whether Berlin can coordinate its legal position with the political pressure of NATO and EU allies.