An Italian court has approved the extradition of a Ukrainian man suspected of involvement in the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, Reuters reported Tuesday.
The man, identified as Serhii K. under German privacy laws, was arrested in August near Rimini on a European arrest warrant. He is accused by German prosecutors of helping coordinate the September 2022 underwater explosions that severely damaged the pipelines linking Russia and Germany.
According to investigators, Serhii K. and his alleged accomplices departed from Rostock, Germany, aboard a 50-foot sailing yacht named Andromeda. Divers reportedly used the vessel to plant explosives on the pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm.
The suspect, a former soldier, denies any involvement and is opposing extradition. His lawyer argues that his fundamental rights, including fair trial guarantees and detention conditions, could be compromised