MOSCOW, November 9. /TASS/. Speculations in the Danish media to the effect Russia is allegedly collecting information about NATO's underwater infrastructure in order to prepare acts of sabotage are aimed at diverting attention from the stalled investigation into the terrorist attacks on the Nord Stream gas carriers, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has told a news briefing.
As she noted, the Danish press had published a series of stories claiming that Russian research and fishing vessels were gathering information about the underwater infrastructure of NATO member countries, including Denmark, in order to prepare acts of sabotage.
"The Danish media's accusations against Russian research vessels are far-fetched and groundless. They directly contradict journalists’ professional ethics," Zakharova pointed out. "It is obvious that these publications are pre-paid, biased and aimed at impeding Russia’s scientific research activities, fomenting Russophobia in the Danish public space and, of course, diverting attention from the main issue - what happened to Nord Streams."
Zakharova emphasized that no evidence of Russia’s allegedly malicious intentions had ever been presented.
"But most importantly, it is necessary for some to form a certain image, it is necessary to somehow mislead the audience regarding everything that is happening and to impose a concept of 'bad Russia' regardless of who did what," she continued. "Scientific research is necessary to obtain reliable assessments of available resource, to ensure sustainable fishing and to preserve the marine ecosystem in the interests of all countries. Our ships have worked and continue to work in strict compliance with the norms of international law."
"Moreover, it is safe to say that the allegations in question are intended to divert attention from the de facto terminated investigation by the Danish side into the terrorist attacks on the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines. Copenhagen, as well as its allies, as we have already realized, are not interested in identifying the organizers and perpetrators of the terrorist attack against a critical facility of the European continent's energy infrastructure," Zakharova stated.