Volodymyr Zhuravlov seeks asylum in Croatia amid Nord Stream extradition

Volodymyr Zhuravlov, a Ukrainian national suspected by German authorities of involvement in the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, has applied for political asylum in Croatia. Zhuravlov claims he cannot receive a fair trial in Germany.

Despite the asylum request, his lawyer, Mykola Katernychchuk, noted that the application does not automatically halt extradition proceedings. A regional court in Pula, Croatia, had previously approved his extradition to Germany based on two European arrest warrants. The charges include sabotage against the constitutional order and intentional destruction of buildings, as well as war crimes related to attacks on civilian objects and the disruption of communal infrastructure.

The defense has argued against extradition, citing a 2025 ruling by a Warsaw court in Poland that refused to extradite Zhuravlov to Germany. They also invoked the principle of 'non bis in idem', arguing he cannot be prosecuted twice for the same act. However, the Croatian court rejected these arguments, stating that the Polish ruling does not bind Croatia and that the court must follow its own regulations.