Italian Supreme Court Halts Extradition
Italy's highest court, the Court of Cassation, has ruled against the extradition of Serhii Kuznetsov, a Ukrainian national suspected of involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions, to Germany. The decision, delivered on October 15, 2025, overturns a previous ruling by a lower appeals court in Bologna that had approved his transfer. The case will now be sent back to a new panel of judges at the Bologna Court of Appeal for further review.
Kuznetsov, a 49-year-old former Ukrainian army captain, was arrested on August 21, 2025, in Rimini, Italy, while on holiday. He was apprehended under a European arrest warrant issued by Germany, where prosecutors accuse him of coordinating the operation to sabotage the critical gas pipelines.
Grounds for the Court's Decision
The Italian Supreme Court's decision was based on arguments presented by Kuznetsov's defense team, led by lawyer Nicola Canestrini. The court upheld the defense's claim of 'incorrect legal classification of the facts underlying the European Arrest Warrant.' Canestrini also highlighted 'serious violations' of his client's fundamental rights during the legal proceedings, including being barred from attending hearings and denied full access to the German case file. Following the ruling, Canestrini indicated he would assess whether the conditions now exist to request his client's release, as 'the legal basis for his detention has now been removed.'
Nord Stream Sabotage Investigation
The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which transported natural gas from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea, were damaged by a series of underwater explosions on September 26, 2022. German federal prosecutors allege that Kuznetsov was part of a group that placed explosive devices on the pipelines. Investigators believe the perpetrators chartered a sailing yacht, the 'Andromeda,' from the German port of Rostock using forged identity documents. Kuznetsov denies the charges, stating he was in Ukraine at the time of the explosions.
The German investigation into the sabotage has identified a total of seven suspects, primarily Ukrainian nationals. In a related development, another Ukrainian citizen, Volodymyr Z., a diving instructor, was detained in Poland on September 30, 2025, also under a German warrant for similar charges. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has publicly stated that extraditing this suspect would go 'against Poland's interests.' Ukraine has consistently denied any involvement in the Nord Stream attacks.
5 Comments
Bermudez
It's good that legal rights are being scrutinized, but it's hard to ignore the geopolitical implications of protecting someone accused of such a major incident. The optics are complicated.
Muchacho
The court's focus on 'incorrect legal classification' suggests procedural issues, which must be addressed. However, the world needs to know who was behind these attacks, and any impediment to that is worrying.
Coccinella
On one hand, ensuring fundamental rights are respected is a cornerstone of justice. On the other, the allegations against Kuznetsov are incredibly serious and have major energy security implications for Europe.
Michelangelo
Crucial to ensure legal classification is correct. Italy did the right thing here, protecting legal integrity.
Comandante
Unbelievable. This just delays justice for a major act of sabotage. So frustrating!