Ukrainian ex-army officer's lawyers seek dismissal as Nord Stream pipeline blast trial opens

HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — Defense lawyers for a former Ukrainian army officer charged with damaging the Nord Stream gas pipelines in blasts four years ago have called for the dismissal of charges in the first day of his trial.The trial that opened Wednesday in Hamburg centers on undersea explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Russia and Germany in what is considered one of Europe’s biggest acts of sabotage since World War II.Serhii Kuznietsov, 50, faces charges of causing an explosion, damaging property, disrupting public service and being an “accomplice to war crimes” by attacking civilian infrastructure.His lawyers, making the motion for dismissal, argued that Kuznietsov was still an active duty soldier and as such was obligated by Ukrainian law not to speak for reasons of secrecy linked to national security.As the proceedings got underway at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court, Kuznietsov, dressed in a gray suit and dark tie, kept a calm expression as he sat bet