Kuznietsov (49 years old) fasted from October 31 to November 11, in a prison in Italy, where he was detained on charges of being involved in the Nord Stream gas pipeline explosion under the Baltic Sea in 2022. Kuznietsov was arrested in Italy in August under a German wanted warrant.
In a handwritten letter provided to the media by a lawyer, Kuznietsov said he was considered a number 1 criminal and detained at a high-security facility with IS suspects.
Kuznietsov wrote: Italyans have been indifferent to my diet for the past two months. They thought that this limitation would make me feel guilty, but that effort was in vain.
Kuznietsov's relatives said they tried to send special foods to prison but were denied, and feared he would be "exhausted" after losing up to 9kg. Lawyer Nicola Canestrini confirmed that the customer refused all solid foods but was still Provincial and clear.
Kuznietsov decided to end the hunger on November 11 after the Italian government guaranteed that his rights, including the right to adequate nutrition, would be respected.
The Nord Stream explosion - which occurred right after Russia launched a military campaign in Ukraine - destroyed the pipeline transporting Russian gas to Germany.
This summer, German prosecutors issued arrest warrants for two Ukrainian suspects: Kuznietsov and Volodymyr Zhuravlyov, who were arrested in Poland.
Accusations of constitutional sabotage were the basis for Germanys demand for extradition. However, the Warsaw court rejected the extradition request for Zhuravlyov, saying that if Ukrainians were involved, it could be considered legal self-defense in the bloody conflict.
Meanwhile, in Italy, the Bologna court approved the extradition of Kuznietsov in a closed trial last month. He is now appealing for the second time.
Lawyer Canestrini said that Kuznietsov felt thrown away by the Ukrainian government like an old shoe. This person emphasized: "He was in the army, they have to know if he is involved or not and need to protect him under all circumstances." Kuznietsov also reflected the need to exercise in isolation, under armed supervision, and under maximum limits.
According to Ukrainian parliamentary human rights committee Dmytro Lubinets, a consultant is reviewing the case and checking the detention conditions. In the letter, Kuznietsov wrote: I understand that the current government has more important things, finding a way to end the conflict. I love Ukraine and am proud to be an officer in the country's armed forces."
Kuznietsov's final appeal in Italy is scheduled to take place in the next few weeks.
