- Government: Wadim K. release 'not easy'
The Federal Government has defended the release of the so-called Tiergarten murderer, Wadim K., to Russia. "The Federal Government did not take this decision lightly," said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit in Berlin. "The state's interest in enforcing the prison sentence of a convicted criminal was weighed against the freedom, physical well-being, and in some cases, ultimately, the lives of innocent people imprisoned in Russia and those wrongfully imprisoned for political reasons. Additionally, solidarity with the USA and the obligation to protect German citizens played a role." Ultimately, the release of 15 individuals who were unlawfully imprisoned in Russia was achieved, along with German national Rico K., who was pardoned in Belarus after being sentenced to death. "The release was only possible by deporting Russian nationals with intelligence backgrounds who were imprisoned in Europe back to Russia," explained Hebestreit. Among them was Wadim K., who was convicted to life imprisonment in Germany for killing a Georgian national who had sought refuge in the country in a park in Berlin.
The Federal Government has called on the Russian and Belarusian leadership to release all those wrongfully imprisoned for political reasons. The exchange had been anticipated for some time, with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin repeatedly expressing his readiness to do so. Putin is criticized for using political prisoners as hostages to pressure the release of Russians from Western prisons.
The European Union expressed concerns over the release of Wadim K., as he was originally sentenced to life in prison by the German courts. The European Union maintains a strong stance against the exchange of convicted criminals for political reasons, upholding human rights and justice within its member states.
