Nord Stream sabotage ruled a war crime amid protests at courthouse
Photo: Former Ukrainian serviceman Serhii Kuznetsov in court in Hamburg (Getty Images)
A trial has begun in Hamburg for former Ukrainian serviceman Serhii Kuznetsov, who is accused of organizing the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022, according to Reuters.
Kuznetsov's lawyer, Nicola Canestrini, filed a motion to dismiss the proceedings. He argues that Nord Stream, which supplied about half of Germany's natural gas imports before Russia's full-scale invasion, was an instrument of Russian political pressure.
According to the defense, this could make the pipeline a legitimate target. The lawyer questioned whether the destruction of an aggressor state's infrastructure can be considered a crime if no people were killed as a result.
"Is it unlawful to destroy an aggressor's infrastructure without harming any human beings?" Canestrini asked.
The prosecution holds a different position. The charges allege that this was an attack on civilian infrastructure, which led to the destruction of facilities and caused damage to public utilities. Therefore, the actions attributed to Kuznetsov are classified as a war crime.
During the hearing, a rally in support of Kuznetsov took place outside the courthouse in Hamburg. Dozens of people arrived with posters, including one reading, "What are war crimes?"
One of the protesters stated that it is Russia that should be held accountable for war crimes.
According to investigative journalists Oliver Schröm and Ulrich Tilke, the plan to sabotage the Nord Stream pipelines was developed as early as 2019. According to their findings, the CIA knew about the plot at an early stage and initially even offered financial support. However, after the Dutch intelligence service learned of the plan, the US side reportedly feared the exposure of its contacts with the operation's organizers.
