Polish court blocks extradition of a man allegedly involved in blowing up Nord Stream 2

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.dw.com/en/nord-stream-poland-blocks-extradition-of-suspect-to-germany/a-74395861

by Prezimek

8 comments

  1. (…) 

    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 Nord Stream pipelines were damaged in a series of explosions in September 2022
    Image: Danish Defense Ministry/Xinhua/picture alliance
    Court cites lack of evidence, jurisdiction

    “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.

    (…) 

  2. [An excerpt from a BBC article: ](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8drmzv98jzo)

    >The judge described Russia’s invasion as “a bloody and genocidal attack” and argued, quoting Aristotle and Saint Thomas Aquinas, that Ukraine had the legal right to defend itself.

    >”If Ukraine and its special forces… organised an armed mission to destroy enemy pipelines – which the court does not prejudge – then these actions were not unlawful.

    >”On the contrary, they were justified, rational and just,” he told the court.

  3. Based. The guy did EU a favour and should be rewarded for it.

  4. The day Polish judge would allow prosecution of a man defending his homeland, would indeed be a sad one.

    I am wondering if this request was serious or only pro forma. 

  5. I’m surprised they’re still pursuing this case. Does Germany not have any prosecutorial discretion?

  7. Well, the polish judge just ruled that this was a military attack by Ukraine on Germany.
    This may have major implications that even the German government cannot override because the judicial systems is independent of the government. Suddenly someone might argue in court that Germany’s ongoing help for Ukraine may be unconstitutional, etc.
    This is the not the win for Ukraine that it looks like at a first glance. 

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