Nord Stream defendant declines oral testimony in Hamburg

Sergey Kuznetsov, accused of coordinating the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, declined to give oral testimony at the Hamburg hearing on October 14, RIA Novosti's correspondent reported.

Kuznetsov responded negatively when the judge offered him an opportunity to speak. German public broadcaster NDR also reported that the defendant did not testify on the opening day.

The case is being heard at Hamburg's Higher Regional Court. Prosecutors link Kuznetsov to organising explosions against underwater infrastructure connecting Russia and Germany. Guilt remains a matter for the court, and declining to speak is not a verdict.

The Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 explosions occurred on September 26, 2022. AP reported that defence lawyers sought dismissal at the trial's opening. That is a defence request rather than an announced court ruling.

Russia opened an international terrorism investigation after the explosions. Dmitry Peskov previously said Moscow had requested investigation information but had not received it.