Polish authorities have detained a Ukrainian citizen wanted by Germany in connection with the 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines from Europe to Russia, his lawyer said on Tuesday.
Photo:Stefan Sauer/dpa via PAP
The man, identified only as Volodymyr Z., was arrested early on Tuesday in a Warsaw suburb under a European arrest warrant issued by a German court, public broadcaster Polish Radio reported.
His lawyer, Tymoteusz Paprocki, confirmed the detention and vowed a „very active” defence.
Paprocki told Polish Radio his client would not comment on whether he had a role in the incident.
The lawyer argued that, given Russia’s war in Ukraine, damaging infrastructure owned by a Russian state-controlled company should not be considered a crime.
German intelligence believes Volodymyr Z., who is believed to be a diving instructor, was directly involved in the blasts, according to Polish Radio.
In August, Italian police arrested another Ukrainian man suspected of coordinating the attacks.
Swedish and Danish investigators said in 2022 that the blasts on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines were an act of sabotage after traces of explosives were found at the site.
The explosions ruptured three of the four pipelines on the Baltic seabed and cut most Russian gas supplies to Europe.
European officials said at the time that Russian naval vessels had been spotted near the site, though Moscow has denied responsibility and blamed the West.
Ukraine has denied involvement.
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Source: polskieradio24.pl, Reuters
