Nord Stream suspect accuses Italy of stress to admit

[ad_1] A Ukrainian former army officer is on the tenth day of a starvation strike in an Italian jail, the place he has accused the authorities of mistreating him to make him confess to blowing up Russia's Nord Stream fuel pipelines underneath the Baltic Sea in 2022.

Serhiy Kuznetsov was detained in Italy in August on an arrest warrant from Germany.

In a letter proven to the BBC by his lawyer, Mr Kuznetsov says he's being handled as "legal no.1", held in a high-security facility alongside suspected members of so-called Islamic State (IS or Isis). The BBC has contacted the jail, however it has not but commented.

No-one has admitted finishing up the assault on the pipelines carrying Russian fuel to Germany.

In his first public remark since his arrest, Mr Kuznetsov writes - by hand - that "the Italians have been cynically ignoring my dietary habits for the previous two months" - a reference to his vegetarian food regimen.

"They suppose that these restrictions can have an effect on my place, and make me confess my guilt. However such efforts are futile."

A relative of Mr Kuznetsov's advised me they'd tried to ship particular meals to the jail, however had been refused - and so they have been anxious that he appeared "exhausted".

The Nord Stream pipelines have been destroyed deep beneath the Baltic Sea firstly of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

It was a excessive profile and controversial assault.

Many initially suspected Russian involvement and an try by Moscow to blackmail Europe by limiting its vitality provides.

However this summer time, German prosecutors activated arrest warrants for 2 of the boys they think of finishing up the assault: Serhiy Kuznetsov and a second Ukrainian citizen, Volodymyr Zhuravlyov, who was detained in Poland.

German prosecutors have cited expenses of "anti-constitutional sabotage" as a foundation for the extradition requests.

A choose in Warsaw dominated towards Mr Zhuravlyov's extradition, saying that, if Ukrainians have been concerned, such an assault would rely as reliable self-defence in a "bloody, genocidal struggle".

In Italy, in contrast, a court docket in Bologna final month accepted Serhiy Kuznetsov's extradition in a closed listening to. He's presently interesting towards that ruling for a second time.

"He advised me he had misplaced 9kg after I stated that his garments have been hanging loosely," the Ukrainian's lawyer, Nicola Canestrini, stated, after visiting his consumer on starvation strike.

The lawyer stated Kuznetsov was refusing all strong meals however was "doing effective and is evident of thoughts".

Serhiy Kuznetsov complains in his letter about having to train in isolation and underneath armed guard and being subjected to "most restrictions".

His lawyer advised the BBC that he himself felt that Mr Kuznetsov had been "deserted" by the Ukrainian authorities "like an previous boot".

"He was within the military, so they need to know was he there or not? If he was there, they need to defend him - if not, they need to defend him as properly," he argues, referring to the assault.

Ukrainian officers have at all times denied any involvement. They declined to remark once more just lately when approached by the BBC.

On Sunday, the human rights ombudsman in Kyiv, Dmytro Lubinets, stated an adviser was trying into the case and would verify on the jail circumstances.

In his letter, Mr Kuznetsov says that he understands that his authorities "presently has extra essential issues to take care of, looking for an finish to the struggle".

He ends on a patriotic word, writing: "I like Ukraine very a lot and am completely satisfied to have the honour of being an officer in its armed forces."