Croatia detains Ukrainian suspect in Nord Stream pipeline explosion pending extradition

China News Service, Beijing, August 21, Zagreb News: On the 20th local time, Croatia ordered a Ukrainian suspect suspected of participating in the 2022 "Nord Stream" natural gas pipeline explosion to be detained pending extradition proceedings.

According to Croatian Radio and Television, the man was arrested on the European Arrest Warrant in northern Croatia on the 19th. After being interrogated on the afternoon of the 20th, the Croatian judiciary decided to detain him before the extradition process was launched.

Croatian Interior Minister Bozinovic commented on the case, saying that the European arrest warrant was issued by Germany and the Croatian police had taken action in accordance with standard procedures.

The man's lawyer said he would appeal against his detention. The specific length of the Croatian extradition process is currently unclear.

The Associated Press quoted German prosecutors as saying that the suspect was a "well-trained diver" and that his gang had planted explosives on the "Nord Stream-1" and "Nord Stream-2" pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea.

The man was reportedly arrested in Poland last year, but Polish authorities released him on the grounds that Germany did not provide enough information at the time.

In September 2022, the "Nord Stream" natural gas pipeline connecting Russia, Germany and other European countries exploded and was suspected of being sabotaged. According to international law, because the pipeline terminal is located in Germany and the explosion has an impact on Germany's energy supply and national security, the case is handled by Germany.