Italian court approves extradition of Nord Stream sabotage suspect to Germany

Italian court approves extradition of Nord Stream sabotage suspect to Germany
This aerial photo released by the Danish Ministry of Defense on Sept. 27, 2022, shows the Nord Stream gas pipeline leak site. (Danish Defense Ministry/Handout via Xinhua)

Serhii Kuznietsov, 49, was arrested on Aug. 21 in Italy’s Rimini province. He is believed to be one of the main masterminds behind the 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream pipelines.

The report said that the Bologna Court of Appeal approved the extradition in September, but the defense filed an appeal with Italy’s Supreme Court, citing procedural flaws. The Supreme Court subsequently suspended the extradition process and sent the case back to Bologna for retrial.

After a new hearing, the Bologna court reaffirmed its earlier decision, approving the handover of the suspect to German authorities.