Released Germans land in Cologne
It was a spectacular and unprecedented prisoner exchange. The people released from Russia have now arrived in Germany - including five Germans. Chancellor Scholz welcomed them at Cologne Airport: "All have arrived here safe and sound."
After the prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus, and Western countries, two planes carrying released prisoners landed at Cologne/Bonn Airport. On board were expected to be about a dozen of the 16 people released from Russia and Belarus. Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed the former prisoners late in the evening. "All have arrived here safe and sound," said the SPD politician at the airport. He had spoken at length with the arrivals. "That was very moving," said Scholz. "Many did not expect this to happen now." Many had feared for their health and even their lives. The SPD politician had previously interrupted his vacation and also landed at Cologne/Bonn Airport. Among the released are five Germans.
The Chancellor described the prisoner exchange with Russia and its partner Belarus as a difficult decision, especially regarding the release of the so-called Tiergarten murderer, Vadim K., who was previously imprisoned in Germany. "No one took this decision lightly, to deport a murderer convicted to life imprisonment after just a few years in prison." The decision was made by the coalition after careful consideration and weighing of the pros and cons.
He spoke of a duty to protect German citizens and highlighted solidarity with the USA. Scholz said: "No one took this decision lightly, to deport a murderer convicted to life imprisonment after just a few years in prison."
The "Tiergarten murderer" is released
The "Tiergarten murderer" killed a Georgian of Chechen origin in a park in Berlin in 2019, who was seeking refuge in Germany. Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly defended the murderer, as he saw him as eliminating a state enemy. The Berlin Higher Regional Court ruled in 2021 that Vadim K. acted on behalf of the Russian state.
The German government has been searching for a solution for political prisoners wrongfully 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 long prison terms on trumped-up charges, such as high treason."
In the complex negotiations between Russia, Belarus, and Western countries, it was agreed to release several high-profile individuals, including five German nationals. Following the prisoner exchange, these German citizens returned to their homeland, receiving a warm welcome from Chancellor Scholz at Cologne Airport.
