Rico Krieger Photo: sb.by
Death Sentence and Its Implications
In late June, German citizen Rico Krieger was sentenced to death in Belarus. The prosecution charged him with six counts, including terrorism and extremist activities. As of July 22, the death sentence has come into effect, but there is no official confirmation that it has been carried out yet.
Possible Exchange for Vadim Krasikov
According to the German newspaper “Deutsche Welle,” Rico Krieger, sentenced by the Minsk Regional Court, may be prepared for an exchange for Russian killer Vadim Krasikov. Krasikov is serving a life sentence in Germany for the murder of former Chechen field commander Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a Georgian citizen.
Circumstances of Detention and Theories
According to human rights activists, Krieger has been in Belarusian custody since October 6, 2023. It remains unclear whether he was detained in Belarus, Russia, or Ukraine. “There is a view propagated by Russian Z-bloggers that he was arrested in Russia and then transferred to Belarus,” said analyst and historian Alexander Friedman.
Exchange Theory
Friedman suggests that the Belarusian authorities conducted the entire trial not to execute Krieger but to facilitate an exchange and gain something in return. “Putin himself has said he wants to get him out. It’s a matter of honor. And here comes the issue with Krieger, and he’s sentenced to death. The stakes are being raised to the maximum: either make a deal or we will execute him,” Friedman explained. “Germany will likely have to act if the situation is framed this way.”
Other Exchange Cases Through Belarus
Andrei Strizhak, co-founder of the BYSOL Solidarity Foundation, who supports Friedman’s view, noted a recent exchange where Ukrainians imprisoned in Belarus were handed over to Ukraine, likely due to an agreement with Russia. “This was the first sign that the Russians used Belarus to negotiate with their opponents. I suspect that this is also a Russian operation conducted through Belarus to increase the stakes. Russia has a moratorium on the death penalty, but Belarus does not,” Strizhak believes.
Belarusian Foreign Ministry Response
The Belarusian Foreign Ministry has stated that Belarus has proposed “concrete solutions for possible scenarios” to Germany regarding the situation.
Exchange Negotiations and Navalny’s Death
It is worth recalling that the exchange of Vadim Krasikov, sentenced in Germany, and Vladislav Klyushin, sentenced in the US, for detained and sentenced foreign citizens in Russia, has been discussed multiple times. The latest discussion occurred before the sudden and suspicious death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny in a high-security colony in the Yamal-Nenets region, who was included in the exchange list alongside Americans Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan.
Source: 9tv
