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Poland Refuses To Extradite Nord Stream Suspect Sought by Germany

Prime Minister Donald Tusk says handing over the Ukrainian detainee is not in Poland's interest, signaling a political turn in a case still before the courts.

Overview

  • A Warsaw court extended the pretrial detention of Wolodymyr Z. by 40 days to review Germany's European arrest warrant.
  • German prosecutors accuse the 46-year-old trained diver of helping place charges on Nord Stream 1 and 2 near Bornholm and seek counts including causing explosions, sabotage, and destruction of structures.
  • The defense intends to contest transfer to Germany, arguing the warrant should not be enforced given the war in Ukraine.
  • Tusk framed the core problem as the pipeline’s construction rather than its destruction, prompting criticism from Hungary’s foreign minister.
  • In a separate proceeding, Italy arrested alleged coordinator Serhii K. in August and a court ordered his extradition to Germany in September, with appeals and procedures delaying any transfer.