Did a German Judge Just Detain a Ukrainian Suspect in the Nord Stream Blast?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Ukrainian suspect detained in Nord Stream pipeline sabotage case.
- Serhii Kuznietsov is accused of coordinating the placement of explosives.
- Legal proceedings and timelines remain uncertain.
- Another suspect's extradition to Germany was blocked by a Polish court.
- Incident deemed a deliberate act of sabotage by multiple nations.
Berlin, Nov 28 (NationPress) A ruling by a judge at Germany's Federal Court of Justice has led to the detention of a Ukrainian individual in connection with the alleged sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines.
The accused, known as Serhii Kuznietsov, was extradited from Italy on the previous day.
As per the warrant from the Federal Court of Justice, Serhii K. is said to have acted as a coordinator for a group responsible for placing explosive devices on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in September 2022. This act resulted in damage to the gas lines that connect Russia and Germany, according to reports from the Xinhua news agency.
The individual was apprehended in Rimini, Italy, back in August. He faces serious charges, including jointly causing explosions and anti-constitutional sabotage.
The timeline for upcoming legal processes, including a potential trial, remains uncertain.
Another individual, Volodymyr Z., was taken into custody in Poland, but a court there halted his extradition to Germany and mandated his immediate release.
Last month, an Italian appellate court in Bologna authorized the extradition of Serhii Kuznietsov, a former member of the Ukrainian military suspected of being involved in the Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions.
Kuznietsov, aged 49, was arrested on August 21 in Rimini, Italy. He is considered a key figure behind the 2022 explosions that caused significant damage to the Nord Stream pipelines.
Reports indicate that the Bologna Court of Appeal approved his extradition in September, but his defense team appealed to Italy's Supreme Court, citing procedural issues. The Supreme Court then suspended the extradition and referred the case back to Bologna for reassessment.
After a new hearing, the Bologna court upheld its previous decision, sanctioning the transfer of the suspect to German authorities.
On September 26, 2022, the Nord Stream pipelines, which transport natural gas from Russia to Europe, were damaged in a series of explosions beneath the Baltic Sea, near Sweden and Denmark. Authorities from Sweden, Denmark, and Germany labeled the incident as a deliberate act of sabotage.