Ukrainian Nord Stream suspect held in Italy ends hunger strike
REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
Charged over alleged involvement in 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, Ukrainian citizen Serhii Kuznetsov has ended his hunger strike in an Italian prison where he is being held pending a decision on his extradition to Germany.
Italian news agency Ansa reported this on Nov. 11, citing Kuznetsov's lawyer, Nicola Canestrini.
Kuznetsov began his hunger strike on Oct. 31 in protest of his detention conditions and alleged rights violations. He ended the strike after Italian authorities assured him that his rights, including adequate nutrition, would be fully respected, according to the report.
“We acknowledge the prison administration's efforts to constructively address the critical issues raised,” the report quoted Canestrini.
“But we must remain vigilant: respecting the rights of all inmates is a permanent duty of the rule of law.”
Kuznetsov also sent a message from prison, expressing gratitude to those who supported him and showed solidarity during the hunger strike.
Previously, the BBC reported that it had reviewed a letter from Kuznetsov in which he claimed he was being treated as "Public Enemy No. 1" and was being held in a high-security facility alongside ISIS terror suspects. He also stated that Italian authorities had ignored his vegetarian diet requests for the past two months.
In his letter, Kuznetsov complained about having to exercise in isolation while under the supervision of armed guards and about the "maximum restrictions" imposed on him.
On Oct. 27, Bologna appeals court authorized the extradition of Kuznetsov to Germany.
Kuznetsov was detained in the summer on a European arrest warrant while on holiday with his wife and children. Since then, he has been kept in a maximum-security prison in northern Italy.
On Aug. 27, German outlets Die Zeit, ARD, and Süddeutsche Zeitung published an investigation saying that German authorities had identified the persons responsible for the 2022 Nord Stream natural gas pipeline sabotage. Arrest warrants were issued for six Ukrainian citizens.
The report said arrest warrants concerned four divers, an explosives expert, a ship captain and the leader of the saboteur group. In total, seven people reportedly took part in the operation.
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