Polish judge refuses to extradite Ukrainian Nord Stream blasts suspect

A Polish judge has turned down a request to extradite a Ukrainian suspect linked to the sabotage of Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines. Volodymyr Zhuravlyov, who is suspected by Germany of involvement in the 2022 underwater explosion, walked out of court free after the judge deemed his actions justified under international law.

The ruling has sent shockwaves through Europe, where the investigation into the blasts has been one of the most high-profile cases in recent years. Poland's government is a key ally of Ukraine, and Prime Minister Donald Tusk took to social media to praise the judge's decision.

But Germany's foreign minister was more subdued, saying he respected the ruling while leaving open the possibility that Germany could still pursue Mr Zhuravlyov through other channels. The suspect faces significant charges in Berlin and is currently being held by Polish authorities on a European arrest warrant.

The Nord Stream pipeline blasts have been a point of contention between Russia and Western Europe for years, with many seeing them as an attempt to disrupt energy supplies from Moscow. But the issue has become increasingly complicated after Ukraine emerged as a suspect, and German officials have faced criticism for not exploring Ukrainian involvement sooner.

Judge Dariusz Lubowski's decision to release Mr Zhuravlyov on bail has sparked debate about the limits of international cooperation and the role of national courts in cases like these. While some see the judge's ruling as a victory for Ukraine, others fear it could embolden Russia's efforts to undermine Western energy supplies.

For his part, Volodymyr Zhuravlyov is set to receive compensation from the Polish state, and he has vowed to stay in Poland with his family. The decision has left many wondering how the case will unfold next - and whether Germany will be able to secure Mr Zhuravlyov's extradition through other means.

I'm like totally shocked by this ruling . I mean, you'd think that sabotaging critical infrastructure would be a pretty big deal, but it seems like some people are looking at it from a different angle . I'm not saying the Ukrainian guy didn't do something wrong, but at the same time, I can see why he might feel like he's getting a break .

It just goes to show that international law is super complex and open to interpretation . And in cases like this, it's hard to know what's really going on behind closed doors . Personally, I think it's kinda wild that the Polish judge was able to declare Zhuravlyov's actions justified under international law . It feels like a pretty big gray area .

I'm curious to see how this all plays out next – will Germany find another way to get Zhuravlyov? And what does this say about the limits of international cooperation and national courts getting involved in these kinds of cases? So many questions, right?

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." – Nelson Mandela It's like he always says... when you're down, get back up and fight for what you believe in But, this is a slippery slope. One minute Russia's all mad about Ukraine, the next Poland is backing them, and now Germany's looking like they're getting left behind What's gonna happen next? Will Zhuravlyov stay in Poland or will he get swooped up by Berlin? Only time will tell...

OMG u guys I'm literally shook by this news!!! A Polish judge just let a Ukrainian suspect go free because they say his actions were justified under international law like what even is that?!? Germany is still trying to figure out how to catch the guy and now Poland's government is just celebrating like it's no big deal I mean I get why they wanna help Ukraine but come on this isn't over yet The whole thing with Nord Stream just got so complicated and we're just gonna keep watching from the sidelines

man this ruling is wild i dont know if its a good thing or bad but im thinking its not cool that germany can't get this guy and now he gets to stay in poland with his family which is def a pro for ukraine but its also like what about gary doesnt germany have other ways to catch him?

I'm so worried about this whole situation. It feels like the world is getting more complex by the minute! As someone who cares about peace and stability, it's hard not to feel a sense of unease when we're talking about international sabotage and energy supplies . I do think it's great that Poland is supporting Ukraine, but at the same time, I worry about Germany not exploring Ukrainian involvement sooner . It just makes me want to be more mindful of my own actions and how they might affect others on a global scale . What if this case sets a precedent for other nations to act in similar ways? Can we find a way to resolve our differences peacefully instead of resorting to sabotage?

omg like i'm still trying to wrap my head around this so like germany is all like "hey we need to get that guy" but polish judge is all "nope not gonna happen under international law" and now everyone's all shocked and stuff... can someone explain how extradition works again? it seems kinda complicated to me anyway, i'm just glad zhuravlyov gets to stay with his fam in poland and hopefully germany doesn't mess this up too much

can u believe dis? a polish judge just let a russian suspect walk free after he was suspected of sabotaging russia's gas pipelines ! i mean, germany is all shook up about it now... some ppl are saying it's a big deal coz it shows how much poland loves Ukraine and doesn't wanna get involved in the drama but others think it's like, super suspicious that he was let go like that anyway, i wonder if germany can still catch him thru other channels

This ruling is super weird. Like, I get that the judge thinks he did nothing wrong, but the whole point of extraditing someone is to hold them accountable for their actions. And in this case, Germany wants him for sabotage, which is like, a pretty serious crime . But at the same time, Poland is just being super friendly with Ukraine, and this judge is basically saying that what's good for Ukraine is good enough for Poland . It's all very confusing. And what about Germany? They're not happy about it, but they're still leaving the door open for other ways to catch him... I don't get how this works . Anyway, I hope someone can explain it better than me because I'm just lost on this one .

I don't know, man... it just feels like we're getting all caught up in this whole Nord Stream thing. Like, is it really worth all the drama? Russia and Ukraine have been at odds for ages, but can we even say for sure who's behind these sabotage attempts? It's all so murky.

And now that Poland's released Zhuravlyov on bail... what's next? Germany's still gonna try to get him through some other channel, I'm guessing. But do they really have the power to hold Russia accountable for this stuff? It feels like we're just perpetuating a cycle of retaliation and aggression.

I mean, I get why people are excited about Ukraine getting support from Poland... but can't we focus on finding some real solutions instead of playing politics? We need to stop worrying about who's behind the saboteurs and start thinking about how we're all gonna be affected by this stuff. The environment, energy prices... it's all so complicated.

Anyway, I guess that's just my two cents on the whole thing.