A court in Italy has issued an extradition order for a suspect linked to the Nord Stream pipeline attacks, sending him to Germany for prosecution. Multiple news outlets reported the decision on Tuesday.
The Ukrainian national, identified only as Serhii K., was arrested in August based on a European Arrest Warrant issued by an investigating judge at the German Federal Court of Justice. He faces charges including joint incitement of an explosion, anti-constitutional sabotage and destruction of buildings.
German prosecutors allege that Serhii K. was part of a group that placed explosive devices on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines near the island of Bornholm in September 2022. He is suspected of being one of the operation’s coordinators.
The group reportedly utilized a sailing yacht for transport, which was chartered from a German company using forged identification documents facilitated by intermediaries. The explosives detonated on September 26, 2022, causing significant damage to both pipelines. The extradition process is now underway and further details regarding the legal proceedings in Germany are expected to emerge.