Italy's highest court has approved the extradition of 49-year-old Ukrainian Serhij K. to Germany. He is suspected of coordinating the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines. The handover could occur in the coming days.
The Court of Cassation in Rome ruled that Serhij K. can be extradited to German authorities. This was announced by the suspect's lawyer, Nicola Canestrini. K. is alleged to be one of the masterminds behind the attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea three years ago. The explosions occurred near the Danish island of Bornholm and damaged the pipelines so severely that no gas could flow through them anymore.
K. was arrested in August during a family vacation in Rimini. German investigators had monitored his movements and requested an international arrest warrant. The Federal Prosecutor's Office has initiated criminal proceedings against him for jointly causing a explosives explosion and constitutional sabotage. According to the investigators, K. led a team of seven suspects, including four divers. They are said to have rented the sailing yacht Andromeda in Germany and sailed out into the Baltic Sea with it.
Another Ukrainian suspect was held in custody in Poland for a time, where extradition was denied; he is now free. K. denies the allegations and went on a hunger strike due to alleged poor treatment. In September, a court in Bologna had already ordered the extradition, but the Court of Cassation initially halted the process following the lawyer's objection. Canestrini expressed disappointment: "As great as the disappointment is: I trust in an acquittal in Germany."
K. is said to have connections to Ukrainian authorities. According to Spiegel information, he worked for the SBU intelligence service until about ten years ago. Company data shows he is still active in an association of security service reservists today. The extradition could bring K. to Hamburg, where he will stand trial. The Court of Cassation will provide a written justification for its decision later.