Ukrainian National Alleges Coercion in Italian Detention
Serhiy Kuznetsov, a Ukrainian former military officer, is currently on a hunger strike in an Italian prison. Kuznetsov was detained in Italy in August based on an arrest warrant from Germany. He alleges mistreatment by Italian authorities, claiming it is an attempt to compel a confession regarding the 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea.
According to a letter shown to the BBC by his lawyer, Kuznetsov states he is being treated as "criminal no.1" and is held in a high-security facility alongside individuals suspected of belonging to Islamic State (IS). The BBC has contacted the prison for comment, but no statement has been provided. No entity has publicly claimed responsibility for the Nord Stream pipeline attack.
Allegations of Dietary Neglect and Extradition Proceedings
In his first public comment since his arrest, Kuznetsov wrote that Italian officials have allegedly disregarded his vegetarian diet for the past two months. He interprets this as an attempt to pressure him into confessing, a strategy he deems ineffective. A relative of Kuznetsov confirmed that attempts to deliver specific food to the prison were denied, expressing concern over his apparent exhaustion.
The Nord Stream pipelines were damaged beneath the Baltic Sea following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. German prosecutors subsequently issued arrest warrants for Kuznetsov and a second Ukrainian citizen, Volodymyr Zhuravlyov, alleging "anti-constitutional sabotage."
Zhuravlyov was detained in Poland, where a judge ruled against his extradition, citing that such actions, if by Ukrainians, could be considered legitimate self-defense in a