A guilty verdict against the Ukrainian in the Nord Stream case would be a disgrace to the justice system
The attorney for Serhiy Kuznetsov, a Ukrainian citizen suspected in Germany of involvement in the explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines, stated that he expects his client to be acquitted. According to the defense attorney, the case file lacks evidence that would unequivocally prove the Ukrainian’s guilt.
Attorney Nicola Canestrini said in an interview with ZDF that he frequently visited Kuznetsov while he was in custody in Italy, bringing him news and letters, including some from Ukraine containing words of support and drawings. One of the drawings—featuring a rainbow—the Ukrainian reportedly took with him after he was transferred to Germany.
According to Canestrini, when he came to visit the Ukrainian during his detention in Italy, prison staff would shout to each other through the bars: “Call James Bond.”
“I’ve never had a client who took this situation so calmly. At times, it seemed to me that he had everything under control. […] I admire him for showing such resilience during this difficult time, because we must all proceed on the assumption that he is innocent,” the lawyer said of him.
In his opinion, the Ukrainian will be acquitted, “because that is the only just decision.” Canestrini called the possibility of him becoming the first person convicted of war crimes during the war in Ukraine “a disgrace to any justice system.”
“During the Russian-Ukrainian war—that is, during the Russian invasion—terrible things certainly happened. These range from routine rapes to child abductions, all the way to the Bucha massacre—that is, the murder of civilians in the most brutal manner. Can we really accept that the first alleged war criminal is the very client who halted energy supplies? Is that really fair?” the lawyer said.
He was also asked about Kuznetsov’s phone calls while in custody, during which he allegedly admitted his involvement in the bombing and said he was acting on behalf of the Ukrainian government.
According to Canestrini, it is up to the court to determine whether the Ukrainian incriminated himself, but in his opinion, there is no conclusive evidence in the case.
As a reminder, the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office has officially charged Ukrainian citizen Serhiy Kuznetsov in the case involving the sabotage of the “Nord Stream” gas pipelines. The agency’s statement notes that he and other members of the group acted as Ukrainian military personnel.
The investigation into the alleged sabotage of the “Nord Stream” gas pipelines is now entering a new phase. The defense attorneys for Ukrainian soldier Serhiy Kuznetsov reported that they had received the indictment from the German side just the day before. According to them, they now have about two months to thoroughly review the case materials and prepare their defense.
