Italian Supreme Court refuses extradition of Ukrainian detained over Nord Stream pipeline sabotage
Italy’s Court of Cassation has overturned a prior decision by an appellate court to extradite Ukrainian citizen Sergey Kuznetsov to Germany.
The court’s ruling stems from the need to re-examine the case concerning suspicions linked to the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
Kuznetsov was detained in Italy on August 21 under an international arrest warrant issued by German authorities, who suspect him of orchestrating a covert operation to blow up the pipelines in September 2022.
The ongoing legal process has become complex, and a new panel of judges will review the case and decide the subsequent steps.
Previously, the Ukrainian ex-officer was accused of being involved in the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which resulted in significant ecological and energy disruptions.
Kuznetsov denies all charges and has refused extradition to Germany.
According to the arrest warrant, German investigators consider that he may have led a team of saboteurs responsible for the attacks, which include charges such as unconstitutional sabotage, deliberate destruction of pipeline infrastructure, and causing explosions.
The suspect faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
The explosions, which occurred on September 26, 2022, near the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea, definitively damaged three strands of the gas pipelines, raising major concerns about regional energy security and environmental safety.