The CDU foreign minister: 'We have gone wrong' by releasing contract killers
Politics must be clear that we have embarked on a slippery slope," said Hardt. All Germans currently in Russia or Belarus should be warned that they could become victims, and "we must protect those who are with us."
Hardt welcomed the release of the 16 people imprisoned in Russia and Belarus. "That's a positive message," he said, but added, "I think it's a total misinterpretation to see this as a sign of new willingness to dialogue from the Russian president. It was about propaganda success."
Russia released 15 prisoners as part of the exchange, including four with German passports; the release of a German initially sentenced to death and later pardoned in Belarus was also achieved.
In exchange, according to the Russian security service FSB, eight Russian prisoners and two minors were able to return to Russia, including the so-called Tiergarten murderer Vadim Krasikov. He was sentenced to life imprisonment at the end of 2021 for shooting a Georgian in Berlin's Tiergarten in August 2019, allegedly on the orders of state Russian authorities.
Hardt urged for caution, stating, "'On the heels' of the prisoner releases, everyone in similar situations should remain vigilant and aware of potential risks. Further, it's essential to continue "on the path" of supporting those individuals who share our standpoint.
