On February 3, 2025, Swedish prosecutors announced the release of a vessel owned by the Bulgarian shipping company Navibulgar after ruling out sabotage in the damage to an undersea fiber-optic cable between Sweden and Latvia. The cable, which connects the Latvian city of Ventspils to the Swedish island of Gotland, was found damaged on January 26.
- Swedish prosecutors released Bulgarian vessel Vezhen.
- Undersea cable damage ruled out as sabotage.
- Investigation continues for other possible crimes.
- Navibulgar denies intentional cable damage.
- Previous incidents linked to Russian activities.
- Norwegian ship Silver Dana also released.
The investigation clarified that while the ship, named Vezhen, was involved in the incident, it was not a case of gross sabotage. Prosecutors stated that further investigations would continue to determine if other crimes may have contributed to the cable break.
The undersea fiber-optic cable rupture has raised concerns about security in the Baltic region, particularly amid fears of Russian espionage. The cable was damaged on January 26, prompting Swedish authorities to seize the Vezhen on the same day. This incident is part of a series of similar occurrences that have fueled suspicions of foreign interference in critical infrastructure.
Key details of the incident include:
- The cable connects Ventspils, Latvia, to Gotland, Sweden.
- The Vezhen was released after an investigation found no evidence of gross sabotage.
- Navibulgar denied any intentional damage by its crew, citing extreme weather conditions.
Senior prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist confirmed that while the Vezhen caused the cable break, it was determined that sabotage was not involved. The investigation will continue to explore whether other factors contributed to the incident. In a related case, Norwegian authorities also inspected a ship suspected of involvement in cable damage but found no links.
The release of the Vezhen marks a significant development in the investigation into the undersea cable rupture. While initial fears of sabotage have been alleviated, ongoing inquiries may reveal additional information regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident.
