Extradition of Ukrainian linked to Nord Stream blastsis blocked

Polish judge points to 'just war' as he announces ruling to free suspect in attack.

- BY CLAUDIA CIOBANU

JUDGE SETS free Volodymyr Zhuravlov.

(Czarek Sokolowski AP)

A Polish court on Friday blocked the extradition to Germany of a Ukrainian man suspected of involvement in the 2022 attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines and ordered his release, a ruling that was welcomed by Poland’s prime minister.

Volodymyr Zhuravlov, 46, was arrested near Warsaw on Sept. 30 on a German warrant. German prosecutors have described him as a trained diver and allege that he was part of a group that placed explosives on the pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm three years ago.

The Warsaw District Court rejected his extradition on Friday and ordered his immediate release.

The man’s lawyer, Tymoteusz Paprocki, said ahead of the hearing that “my client doesn’t admit guilt, he didn’t commit any crime against Germany and he doesn’t understand why these charges were made by the German side.” He said he also would argue that no Ukrainian should be charged with any action directed against Russia.