Polish court may extend the 100‑day detention of Ukrainian alleged Nord Stream saboteur Volodymyr Z.; dozens protest at the Warsaw courthouse on 6 October.
court hearing regarding Volodymyr Z.
On 6 October, the Warsaw District Court was expected to decide whether to extend Volodymyr Z.’s detention to 100 days. He is suspected by German authorities of damaging the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022 and was sought under a European Arrest Warrant. Roughly dozens of supporters gathered before the court in the capital demanding his release.
prosecution statement
Defense lawyer Tymoteusz Paprocki reported that the prosecution had submitted a request recognizing the legal admissibility of handing Z. over to German authorities. He said the court would decide between 12:30 and 13:00 whether the defendant would answer on his own initiative in the proceedings. The court also added all statements and guarantees from Z.’s family to the case file. Paprocki emphasized that the case warranted Z. defending his rights independently.
investigation on Nord Stream
On 1 October, the Warsaw District Court issued a seven‑day detention order for Z. The Ukrainian, arrested in Pruszków, was pursued under a European Arrest Warrant by Germany for alleged involvement in the 26 September 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline. He denied guilt. Prosecutor Piotr Skiba said Polish authorities do not judge guilt but assess whether Polish law permits extradition. The Warsaw District Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson confirmed that investigators adhere strictly to the law.
