Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder defended the construction of the controversial gas pipeline "Nord Stream 2" in testimony he gave today before an investigative committee, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
The eighty-one-year-old politician from the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) testified before a special committee of the regional parliament of the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania via video link due to his health condition. Earlier this year, he was hospitalized with symptoms of burnout.
Schroeder, who governed Germany between 1998 and 2005, said his government wanted to end the country's dependence on nuclear energy, which had necessitated the supply of cheap natural gas from Russia.
After leaving politics, Schroeder worked for many years in Russian energy companies, including as chairman of the board of the Nord Stream 2 joint-stock company, which donated 20 million euros to the controversial Climate Protection Foundation in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The investigation is related to the foundation, established in early 2021, whose purpose was to help complete the Nord Stream 2 project. The move is said to have been taken in response to US threats to impose sanctions on companies involved in the pipeline construction.
The local parliament of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern wants to clarify who initiated the foundation's creation and whether Russia had any influence.
"The foundation was an instrument to prevent American interference in our energy policy," said Schröder, describing its establishment as "an extremely sensible decision.
Schröder looked visibly irritated as he testified before the investigative committee.
"Mr. President, can you stop this nonsense?", the former chancellor said at one point to the committee's chairman, Sebastian Ehlers.
Later today, Helge Braun, who headed the office of former Chancellor Angela Merkel, will also testify before the investigative committee. Braun was among Merkel's closest aides during the planning, approval and construction of "Nord Stream 2".
"Nord Stream 2" is a continuation of the "Nord Stream 1" gas pipeline and its construction was completed in 2021. However, the facility never entered into operation due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In 2022, both gas pipelines were damaged by explosions, and the case is still under investigation for sabotage.
Meanwhile, a Polish court today blocked the extradition to Germany of a Ukrainian suspected of participating in the attack on the "Nord Stream" gas pipeline in 2022, after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it was not in his country's interest, the Associated Press reported.
The 46-year-old suspect, identified as Włodzielny Z. in accordance with local privacy rules, was arrested near Warsaw on September 30 at the request of Germany.
German prosecutors described him as an experienced diver and said he was part of a group that planted explosives on pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm three years ago.
A Warsaw district court on Monday rejected his extradition and ordered his immediate release.