The case of Ukrainian Serhiy Kuznetsov, whom Germany accuses of sabotaging the Nord Stream gas pipelines, goes beyond the defense of a single individual and concerns the interests of Ukraine as a whole. This was stated in a comment to LIGA.net by attorney Ilya Novikov, a member of the defense team.

“The defense of Serhiy Kuznetsov is turning into a defense of Ukraine as a whole, because many in Germany believe that Ukraine should pay them several billion in damages. If the court rules that this was a legitimate military target, it will be easier for Ukraine to fend off such claims,” Novikov noted.

Why this matters: The German court’s decision could determine the international legal assessment of the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage and any potential claims against Ukraine.

In a Facebook post, the lawyer noted that, compared to the suspicion on the basis of which Sergei Kuznetsov was extradited from Italy to Germany, Article 88 of the German Criminal Code—“Sabotage against the constitutional order”—has been removed from the indictment.

In a comment to LIGA.net, Novikov emphasized that this is not a matter of softening the charges, but rather a correction of the prosecution’s legal position.

“This is more of a correction of the position than a reduction of the charges. But it certainly makes it easier for us to communicate,” the lawyer added.

According to Novikov, the charges are based not only on the German Criminal Code but also on the Code of Crimes Against International Law, which implements the norms of international humanitarian law. This means that the court will consider not only Kuznetsov’s actions themselves, but also the question of whether the “Nord Stream” pipeline was a legitimate target during wartime.

According to Novikov, Sergei Kuznetsov remains in custody at the Hamburg detention center in the wing for terrorism suspects. The lawyer said that his wife visited him this week. Due to the heat, conditions in the cell are difficult.

“Sergey is having a hard time right now, and he would like to see more support from the state. He does not admit guilt and is not making any statements; that is his position,” the lawyer added.