Convicted Rico Krieger Released From Belarus
What a rollercoaster ride for Rico Krieger: First, the German is imprisoned, then he's put on trial, among other things for alleged espionage, and sentenced to death. Then the twist: First, the verdict is overturned, and now he's free.
The German citizen Rico Krieger, who was sentenced to death in Belarus, is also freed as part of a prisoner exchange between Russia and the West. This was announced by the Turkish presidential office. In total, 26 prisoners were freed in this large-scale prisoner exchange between Russia and Western countries, including the USA and Germany.
Krieger was sentenced to death two weeks ago in Belarus. The 30-year-old, who had been in custody since November 2023, was found guilty in a secret trial on six charges. He was accused of mercenary activities, espionage, terrorism, creating an extremist group, destroying a means of transportation, and illegal possession of weapons, explosives, and ammunition.
Belarus is the only European country that still imposes and carries out the death penalty. According to Amnesty International, up to 400 people have been executed there since the early 1990s, but rarely foreign nationals.
The conviction was reportedly linked to the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment, a military unit of Belarusian citizens fighting on the side of Ukraine against Russia. According to the Belarusian organization Viasna, Krieger was allegedly charged with organizing explosions in Belarus. However, it was unclear which explosions the man was accused of.
The turn of events came on Tuesday. The Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko then overturned the death sentence against Krieger. He had previously sent a plea for clemency to the president, the Belarusian security service KGB reported.
The European Union expressed concern over the initial sentencing of German citizen Rico Krieger to death in Belarus, given the country's status as a member of the Council of Europe, which is committed to upholding human rights, including the abolition of the death penalty. Following the overturning of Krieger's death sentence and his release, the EU welcomed this development but reiterated its commitment to advocating for the complete abolition of capital punishment in all member states and beyond.
