Poland Frees Nord Stream Suspect, Defying Germany

A Polish court ordered the release of a Ukrainian man wanted by Germany for allegedly taking part in the sabotage of the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines, the latest twist in a case that has stoked tension over the prosecution of suspects seen as aiding Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

Volodymyr Zhuravlev, 45 years old, was detained last month near Warsaw on a German warrant alleging he was involved in blowing up the pipelines in September 2022. The pipelines, which linked Russia and Germany under the Baltic Sea, were the world’s largest offshore gas conduits at the time.