Finland’s Defense Minister Responds to Russian Offer Amid Cable Incident
In a notable incident that has raised eyebrows, Finland’s Minister of Defense, Antti Häkkänen, has dismissed Russia’s recent offer of “assistance” to the crew of a cargo ship suspected of damaging an underwater data cable.
The Finnish police have formally arrested two crew members of the Fitburg, a vessel believed to have severed a data cable connecting Finland and Estonia on New Year’s Eve. In addition, two other crew members are currently under travel bans as investigations unfold.
While authorities have opted not to disclose the nationalities of those arrested, they commenced interrogations of the crew on Thursday and initiated an underwater investigation of the cable’s damaged site.
Detective Superintendent Risto Lohi of the National Bureau of Investigation stated, “Investigative measures have been carried out on the ship, and the crew has been interviewed. We are now assessing the situation and the role of the crew.” He further noted that the crew has been cooperative during the investigation.
The Fitburg was sailing under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and carried a diverse crew, including individuals from Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. Lohi refrained from speculating on whether the incident could be tied to state-sponsored activities, emphasizing the preliminary nature of the ongoing investigation. The current charges under review include aggravated interference with telecommunications, alongside aggravated damage and attempted aggravated damage.
The discovery of the severed Elisa telecommunications cable was made early Wednesday morning, prompting authorities to seize the Fitburg later that day. The ship is now docked at Kantvik port in Kirkkonummi.
Recurrent Cable Break Incidents
Notably, this latest incident is not an isolated event; over the past year, several cable breaks in the Gulf of Finland have implicated foreign vessels, including the Christmas Day incident involving the Eagle S. Detective Lohi remarked, “The common factor is that this time it is also a cargo ship coming from Russia, and it involves an anchor being offboard. While there are both similarities and differences in these cases, each will be evaluated comprehensively.”
In October, the Helsinki District Court ruled it lacked jurisdiction to hear charges against the officers of the Eagle S.
Meanwhile, Thursday’s reports from MTV News revealed that Herman Ljungberg, the lawyer who defended the Eagle S crew, is now assisting the company operating the Fitburg.
Defense Minister’s Cautious Stance
Minister Häkkänen confirmed in an interview with Iltalehti that Russia had indeed extended an offer of assistance to the Fitburg’s crew. He remarked, “Russia has typically issued offers of assistance in cases of hybrid influencing.”
When asked to comment further on the motives behind the incident, Häkkänen maintained a measured tone: “It should be approached normally and calmly.” The Fitburg was on a route from St. Petersburg to Haifa, Israel, carrying steel at the time of the incident.
“It is natural for Moscow to make such offers of assistance,” Häkkänen added, “but we operate according to our own procedures.”
As the investigation unfolds, officials will undoubtedly keep a close watch on this evolving situation, wary of broader implications in the region.