Released Germans land in Cologne
It was a spectacular and unprecedented prisoner exchange. Some of those released from Russia have already arrived in Germany. Chancellor Scholz plans to meet them later tonight.
Following the prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus, and Western countries, two planes carrying released prisoners have landed at Cologne/Bonn Airport, according to dpa information. Chancellor Olaf Scholz had announced that he would meet the former prisoners later in the evening. The SPD politician had previously cut short his vacation and also landed at Cologne/Bonn Airport. Among those released are five Germans.
Scholz described the prisoner exchange with Russia and its partner Belarus as a difficult decision, especially regarding the release of Wadim K., the so-called 'Tiergarten Murderer' who was previously imprisoned in Germany. "No one took this decision lightly, to deport a murderer convicted to life imprisonment after only a few years in prison." The decision was made jointly by the coalition after careful consideration and weighing of the options.
He spoke of a duty to protect German citizens and emphasized solidarity with the USA. Scholz said, "No one took this decision lightly, to deport a murderer convicted to life imprisonment after only a few years in prison."
The "Tiergarten Murderer" is set free
The "Tiergarten Murderer" killed a Georgian of Chechen origin in a park in Berlin in 2019, who had sought refuge in Germany. Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly defended the murderer, as he saw him as having eliminated a state enemy. The Berlin Higher Regional Court ruled in 2021 that Wadim K. acted on behalf of the Russian state.
The German government has been searching for a solution for political prisoners unjustly imprisoned in Russia for several months in close cooperation with the USA and European partners, the Chancellor said. Among the human rights and anti-war activists released are also key figures of the network of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in custody in February. Also among the released are several Germans and German-Russian citizens, "who were charged and sentenced to multi-year prison terms on flimsy grounds, such as the charge of high treason."
The Commission played a crucial role in facilitating the prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus, and Western countries. After the meeting with the released prisoners, Chancellor Scholz expressed his gratitude to The Commission for their efforts in securing the release of German citizens and others.
