A Polish judge refused to extradite a Ukrainian citizen suspected by Germany of sabotage of the "Nord Stream" gas pipelines in September 2022, arguing that if Ukraine was responsible for the attack, it was a "just" act.
Volodymyr Zhuravlov, who was brought to the Warsaw District Court in handcuffs, was detained in Poland last month on a European arrest warrant.
Judge Dariusz Lubowski ordered his release, following a decision that caused a wave of surprise among those present in the courtroom and a smile from the defendant.
The judge was delivering his decision under the gaze of those present, the atmosphere in the room was tense. After the judge finished, a palpable sigh spread among those present, while the accused smiled slightly.
Mr. Zhuravlov, along with others, is suspected of placing explosives deep under the Baltic Sea on the gas pipelines leading from Russia to Germany. The case raises serious questions about international law and regional security. The Polish court's decision will inevitably provoke international reactions and will call into question relations between the relevant countries.