Croatia approves extradition of Nord Stream suspect, appeal pending
A Croatian court approved Germany’s request to extradite Vladimir Z., but his lawyer says the decision will be appealed and is not final.
A Croatian court has approved Germany’s request to extradite Ukrainian national Vladimir Z., who is wanted in connection with the 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines. His lawyer says the ruling remains subject to appeal, leaving the timing and prospect of extradition uncertain.
Lawyer Ljubo Pavasovic Viskovic said the court approved the request on 18 September and that an appeal would be lodged. Vladimir Z. was arrested in Pula in August under a European warrant.
German prosecutors allege Vladimir Z. was a trained scuba diver in a team that planted explosives on the pipelines in the Baltic Sea. He has not been convicted in the case.
The explosions on 26 September 2022 damaged the Nord Stream pipelines, built to carry natural gas from Russia to Germany. German investigators allege a Ukrainian state agency ordered the attack. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his government knew nothing of such a plan.
