ISTANBUL

Serhii Kuznietsov, a former Ukrainian army officer accused of being involved in the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, who was arrested in Italy, has been on a hunger strike since Oct. 31, his lawyer said Tuesday.

Kuznietsov, "held for months in an Italian maximum security prison, has been refusing food since October 31 to demand respect for his fundamental rights, including the right to adequate nutrition, a healthy environment, dignified detention conditions, and equal treatment with other prisoners regarding family visits and access to information," said Nicola Canestrini, according to the ANSA news agency.

Canestrini said Kuznietsov has never been guaranteed a diet compatible with his health conditions, resulting in his physical deterioration since the day of his arrest.

The Bologna Court of Appeal, on Sep. 17, ordered the surrender of Kuznietsov, who was detained Aug. 21 near the Adriatic coastal city of Rimini under a European arrest warrant, to German authorities.

Kuznietsov faces charges in connection with explosions that damaged the Nord Stream 1 and 2 natural gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September 2022.

The 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines was an unprecedented attack that caused extensive damage to the infrastructure connecting Russia and Germany beneath the Baltic Sea. The Ukrainian government has repeatedly denied any involvement.