Nord Stream Suspect Starts Hunger Strike in Italian Prison Demanding Rights

A 49-year-old Ukrainian man suspected of orchestrating the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines has begun a hunger strike in an Italian high-security prison, demanding respect for his basic rights including adequate nutrition, humane detention conditions, and equal treatment with other inmates. Arrested in August near Rimini on a German warrant, he is awaiting extradition to Germany amid ongoing legal appeals in Italy, with the highest court, the Court of Cassation, expected to review his case soon. His lawyer, Nicola Canestrini, has called for urgent intervention to ensure conditions meet constitutional and international standards, emphasizing that the suspect will not relent until international law and human rights concerns are addressed. The sabotage led to significant disruptions in Russian gas supplies to Europe and intensified the Ukraine conflict, although Ukraine denies involvement. The suspect's detention and extradition proceedings remain a focal point of international legal and political attention. If tried in Germany, the case would likely be heard in Hamburg.