Gas pipelines: Italy can deliver North Stream suspects

Three years after the attacks on the North Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, one of the alleged masterminds from Italy can be delivered to Germany. A court in Bologna gave the green light for the transfer of the 49 -year -old Ukrainian Serhij K. to the German authorities. The man who had been arrested on the Italian Adriatic coast at the end of August will probably come to a German prison this month.

An appellate court in the northern Italian city of Bologna was responsible for deciding on delivery. From his point of view, there are no reasons that speak against delivery to Germany. The Ukrainian lawyer, Nicola Canestrini, announced that it would bring the case to Italy’s Supreme Court. However, the likelihood that the cassation courtyard in Rome will still stop delivery is considered to be very low. The EU partners Germany and Italy also work closely together in the judiciary.

Federal prosecutor speaks of anti -constitutional sabotage

The Federal Prosecutor’s Office is burdening K. to have coordinated a group who placed explosive devices in September 2022 near the Bornholm Baltic island of the Pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2 coming from Russia. It accuses him of bringing together an explosive explosion and anti -constitutional sabotage. If the process occurs, it would probably take place in Hamburg. K. could also be brought to prison there from Italy. So far there have been no further arrests.

At the end of last month, the Ukrainian was caught in a small community in the hinterland of the popular Adriatic bathing resort Rimini, where he spent the vacation with his wife and two young children. Apparently he did not expect an international arrest warrant.

Ukrainian denies all allegations

According to media reports, the man is said to be a former agent of the Ukrainian secret service SBU and have previously been in other European countries.

K. denies all allegations. He claims to have been to the pipelines in Ukraine during the attacks. His Italian lawyer appealed against the decision of the Court of Appeal. Canestrini told the dpa: “Fundamental rights such as the right to a fair procedure and correct conditions of detention must not be sacrificed in the name of automatic cooperation between the judicial systems.”

Russia had previously discontinued gas deliveries

The government in Kyiv also contests to be behind the attacks. Ukraine has been defending itself against an attack war from Russia for more than three and a half years. The attack in autumn 2022, half a year after the start of the war, made headlines worldwide. The two pipelines damaged several blasts so much that no gas could be passed through. Lecks were discovered on three of the four lines.

However, no gas had previously been flowed through the lines. After the start of the war, Russia initially throttled its deliveries and then completely stopped at the beginning of September – supposedly due to technical problems. It is believed that Moscow wanted to increase the pressure on the West and Germany in particular to withdraw sanctions against Russia. In the meantime, many other punitive measures have been added.