Nord Stream sabotage suspect denies charges

A man arrested on a European warrant from Germany on suspicion of involvement in the twin 2022 explosions that sabotaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Europe on Friday denied the charges, saying he was in Ukraine at the time of the blasts, and made a typical Ukrainian nationalist ‘trident’ gesture at a Bologna appeals court hearing on validating the warrant.
    Addressing journalists and photographers stationed outside the Bologna Court of Appeal, Sehrii Kuznetsov, in the courtyard of the courthouse, held up three fingers, making the “Ukrainian trident” sign.
    This is a gesture of national identity, the symbol featured in the Ukrainian coat of arms.
    The 49-year-old was then escorted by the Penitentiary Department to the courtroom where the validation of the European arrest warrant for his involvement in the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines was discussed.
    The hearing was immediately adjourned until early afternoon to find a Ukrainian interpreter.
    An English interpreter was present in the courtroom, but the arrested man stated he wasn’t fluent in English and requested a Ukrainian or Russian translator.
    The judge therefore requested the search for such an interpreter, and the hearing was adjourned.
    The Bologna Prosecutor’s Office has already submitted a written request for pre-trial detention, ahead of the ongoing hearing for Kuznetsov.
    The Ukrainian is accused of terrorist sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea and was arrested on a European arrest warrant issued by the German Federal Court last night at a farm holiday resort in San Clemente, near Rimini.
    Deputy Prosecutor Licia Scagliarini has therefore granted the German judicial authorities’ requests for the suspect’s surrender.
    The validation of the arrest and the pre-trial detention request will be discussed today.
    Kuznetsov went on to tell the court he does not consent to being handed over to Germany.
    In brief statements, the man essentially distanced himself from the charges, saying he wanted to read them in his native language, adding that he was in Ukraine during the sabotage and is currently in Italy for family reasons.
    The judge adjourned to decide.
   

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