Court OKs Nord Stream Sabotage Suspect’s Extradition

Bologna: A Bologna court on Tuesday ruled that a Ukrainian man arrested in Italy on suspicion of involvement in the explosions in September 2022 that sabotaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Europe should be extradited to Germany.

According to Ansa News Agency, Serhii Kuznietsov, a former Ukrainian army captain, was detained on a European arrest warrant while vacationing near Rimini last month. Kuznietsov denies the charges brought against him.

His defence lawyer, Nicola Canestrini, announced intentions to appeal the extradition decision to the supreme Court of Cassation. Canestrini argued that fundamental rights regarding due process, detention conditions, and functional immunity have been violated. He emphasized that these rights “cannot be sacrificed in the name of automatic judicial cooperation.”