Scholz on Krasikov's release: "No one made the decision easy"
In this case, the state's interest in enforcing the sentence had to be weighed against the risk of freedom, and in some cases, the risk of life, for innocent persons detained in Russia, and those wrongfully imprisoned for political reasons. For the federal government, it was crucial that "we have a protective obligation towards German citizens, as well as solidarity with the USA."
Krasikow was sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany at the end of 2021. He had, in the conviction of the Berlin Higher Regional Court, shot a Georgian of Chechen origin in the Tiergarten in the capital in August 2019. The court considered it proven at the time that Krasikow had committed the murder on behalf of state Russian authorities.
Russia, Belarus, and five Western states, including the USA and Germany, carried out the prisoner exchange on Thursday afternoon, affecting 24 prisoners and two minors. Russia released 15 prisoners, including four with German passports; the release of a German convicted in Belarus was also achieved. In return, according to the Russian security service FSB, eight Russian prisoners and two minors were able to return to Russia.
The European Court of Justice, often referred to as the Court of Justice, was expected to review the extradition request for Krasikow due to his alleged ties to Russian state authorities. Despite being sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany, there were calls for the Court of Justice to intervene and reevaluate his case given his alleged political persecution.
