Two reports from Deutsche Welle:
"Nord Stream: Poland blocks extradition of suspect to Germany
A Polish court on Friday declined to extradite to Germany a Ukrainian suspected of involvement in sabotaging the Nord Stream gas pipelines.
The Warsaw District Court also ordered his immediate release. The decision may be subject to appeal.
A series of underwater explosions damaged the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022, seven months after Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine.
"The Polish court does not have any evidence in this case, as the German side only sent very general information," judge Dariusz Lubowski was cited by Poland's PAP news agency as saying.
The judge also argued that the alleged sabotage constituted a "military operation" that was "not illegal." He argued that the suspect allegedly acted on behalf of Kyiv, meaning "only the Ukrainian state can bear responsibility for this act."
He also said that Germany did not have jurisdiction over the case as it occurred in international waters.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk hailed the decision in a post on X.
"Polish court denied extradition to Germany of a Ukrainian national suspected of blowing up North Stream 2 and released him from custody. And rightly so," Tusk said.
"The case is closed."
The man's defense lawyer, Tymoteusz Paprocki, told journalists in Warsaw that the ruling sent a "signal to Germany" and showed that the law should not be "instrumentalized for the sake of greater interests."...
Before the ruling, his defense lawyer had said that his client planned to plead not guilty if brought to trial.
He questioned whether the destruction of Russian property by Ukrainians could be considered a criminal matter in light of Moscow's invasion of its neighbor...
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Donald Tusk argued against handing over the suspect, suggesting it was not in Poland's national interest.
"The problem with North Stream 2 is not that it was blown up. The problem is that it was built," Tusk said in a post on X..."
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"Italy approves Nord Stream suspect's Germany extradition
Italy's Supreme Court of Cassation upheld a lower court verdict that a Ukrainian national wanted in Germany on suspicion of sabotaging the Nord Stream gas pipelines can be extradited.
The suspect's lawyer announced the decision on Wednesday evening.
The 49-year-old, identified as Serhiy K., has been in pre-trial detention since the summer and his lawyer said on October 31 that he had started a hunger strike in protest.
He's wanted in Germany on suspicion of helping to organize and plan the sabotage, on charges of causing an explosion and of sabotage targeting key infrastructure. The defendant denies the charges.
The man is likely to be handed over to German police in Italy and then flown to Germany..."
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