Swedish authorities have lifted the confiscation of the cargo ship Vezhen following an investigation into the breakage of an undersea fiber optic cable between Sweden and Latvia on 26 January, according to a report by Swedish Television (SVT).
The Swedish prosecution authority confirmed that the inquiry found no evidence of sabotage. “The investigation now clearly shows that it is not a case of sabotage,” the agency stated.
Senior prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist from the National Security Unit explained that while Vezhen was responsible for damaging the cable, the incident resulted from poor seamanship, faulty equipment, and adverse weather conditions rather than intentional misconduct.
The damaged fiber optic cable, which connected Latvia and Sweden’s Gotland Island, was among several recent incidents involving disruptions to undersea communication and energy infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
Initially, Swedish authorities seized Vezhen on suspicion of sabotage, detaining the vessel in the southeastern port of Karlskrona. The bulk carrier, sailing under the Maltese flag and operated by a Bulgarian company, was escorted to port as part of the criminal investigation.
With no signs of deliberate wrongdoing, the ship has now been cleared to resume its journey, SVT reported.
Source: XINHUANET
