death penalty - A German has been sentenced to death in Belarus
In the ex-Soviet republic of Belarus, a German citizen, according to human rights organizations, has been sentenced to death. The former volunteer rescuer of the German Red Cross is accused of mercenary activity, espionage, terrorism, creating an extremist organization, destruction of a traffic object, and illegal handling of weapons, explosives, and ammunition, reportedly by the Belarusian human rights organization Viasna.
He is reportedly sentenced to death for alleged involvement in a bombing attack. The judgment reportedly took place approximately a month ago but was only made public now. Officially, the authorities in Minsk have not acknowledged the verdict.
The German Foreign Ministry confirmed the case upon inquiry by the German Press Agency. "The Foreign Office and the embassy in Minsk are providing consular assistance to the affected individual. We are intensively advocating on his behalf with the Belarusian authorities," the statement reads. Germany rejects the death penalty as inhumane and inhumane in principle.
The explosion for which the man is charged is still unclear. The case is said to be related to a regiment predominantly composed of Belarusian volunteers that fights on the side of Kiev against the Russian invasion in the Ukraine. Belarus maintains an official neutral stance in the war. However, Russia has entered Ukraine through Belarusian territory as part of its large-scale offensive. Relations between Minsk and Kiev are tense.
Opponents of the Russian offensive in Belarus have made infrastructure objects in their own country unusable, including railway lines used by the Russian military.
The German is reportedly in detention since November 2023. According to Viasna, he had previously worked for a short time as a security guard at the US Embassy in Berlin.
Alexander Lukashenko has ruled Belarus since 1994 without interruption. After declaring himself the winner of the disputed election in 2020, there were mass protests throughout the country, which were brutally suppressed. Over 1,000 people are considered political prisoners in the country. Belarus is the only country in Europe where the death penalty is still in force. Condemned prisoners are shot.
- The human rights organization Viasna in Belarus alleges that a German citizen was sentenced to death for various offenses, including espionage and terrorism.
- The German Foreign Ministry has confirmed the case and is providing consular assistance, expressing its opposition to the death penalty.
- The exact details of the explosion the German is accused of involvement in are still unclear, but it's reportedly related to a regiment fighting on Kiev's side against Russia in Ukraine.
- Relations between Belarus and Ukraine are strained, with Belarus maintaining an official neutral stance in the ongoing conflict, despite Russia using its territory for a large-scale offensive.
- Opponents of the Russian offensive in Belarus have targeted some of their own country's infrastructure, including railway lines used by the Russian military.
- The German citizen has been in detention since November 2023, with Viasna claiming he had a brief stint as a security guard at the US Embassy in Berlin.
- Alexander Lukashenko, who has been the ruler of Belarus since 1994, faces criticism for suppressing political protests and maintaining the death penalty, which is the only such punishment in Europe.
- Over 1,000 individuals are considered political prisoners in Belarus, highlighting concerns about human rights and justice within the country.
- The Red Cross and other human rights organizations have called for a fair and transparent court process, seeking to uphold the principles of human rights and justice for all citizens in times of conflict.
