Legal Battle Over Nord Stream Sabotage Suspect Intensifies

A Ukrainian man linked to the 2022 Nord Stream gas pipeline sabotage is contesting his extradition from Italy to Germany. The Italian appeals court upheld the transfer, but the defense plans to challenge it in Italy's top court, arguing the act was political and seeks immunity.

The legal saga surrounding a Ukrainian man suspected of orchestrating the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022 continues to unfold. On Monday, an Italian appeals court confirmed the decision to extradite the suspect, identified as Serhii K. under German privacy laws, to Germany.

Despite this, Serhii K.'s defense lawyer, Nicola Canestrini, announced plans to challenge the ruling in Italy's Court of Cassation. The defense argues that the act was political in nature and that his client should be granted immunity, emphasizing that the international law and human rights implications need thorough examination.

The case remains a point of contention. Strikingly, a Polish court recently refused a similar extradition to Germany for another suspect, revealing the international complexities surrounding the incident. Both Moscow and the West have termed the Nord Stream explosions as sabotage, which significantly disrupted Russian gas supplies to Europe.

(With inputs from agencies.)