After the death sentence against a German, Belarus showed itself ready to talk and has now made a decision. It remains to be seen what will happen next.
The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has pardoned the German Rico K., who had been sentenced to death. The Belarusian news agency Belta reported this on Tuesday. According to Belarusian media reports, K. has admitted, among other things, to having photographed military installations on behalf of the Ukrainian security service SBU.
He also received a backpack, which he left on the tracks at a train station southeast of Minsk. The backpack exploded before a train arrived, but no one was injured. The Foreign Office was initially unable to comment.
Belarus accused the German of terrorism
Rico K., a former rescue worker with the German Red Cross, was accused of mercenary activity, espionage, the creation of an extremist organization, destruction of a traffic facility and illegal handling of weapons, explosives and ammunition, reported the Belarusian human rights organization Wjasna, among others.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had previously said that the federal government would do everything it could to provide the German citizen with the best possible support. According to earlier Belarusian media reports, negotiations were taking place in the background about the fate of Rico K.
An exchange is conceivable, as Belarus’ close ally Russia is also negotiating such measures with the West. For example, the US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is imprisoned in Russia for espionage, is to be exchanged for the “Tiergarten murderer” Vadim Krasikow, who is imprisoned in Germany.
Transparency note: This article has been updated.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
