Ukraine's former ambassador challenges Nord Stream suspect's extradition

Oleksandr Levčenko, the former Ukrainian ambassador to Croatia, has criticized the legal proceedings against Vladimir Žuravljov, a Ukrainian national arrested in Pula. Žuravljov is facing extradition to Germany on suspicion of being part of a group of divers involved in the September 2022 destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines.

While a county court in Pula approved the extradition based on a European arrest warrant for war crimes, the case is currently under appeal. Levčenko questioned the classification of the incident as a war crime, noting that no lives were lost and no vessels were damaged. He highlighted perceived inconsistencies in the legal process, contrasting the war crime charges with ongoing German financial aid to Ukraine.