Vladimir Putin: What connects him to the Tiergarten murderer?

Vladimir Putin: What connects him to the Tiergarten murderer?

Vladimir Putin welcomes the released “Tiergarten murderer” in Moscow with a hug. What is behind this expression of special solidarity?

There was no shortage of hugs in front of airplanes on Thursday. In Washington, for example, US President Joe Biden and his Vice President Kamala Harris hugged the returning Evan Gershkovich and two other Americans. Some citizens also landed in Moscow. Their reception was a little less warm, but no less public. One hug in particular had a bitter aftertaste: that of Vladimir Putin and Vadim Krasikov. The former is the Kremlin chief, the latter the so-called “Tiergarten murderer”.

Stomach ache at the release of Vadim Krasikov

The largest prisoner exchange between the West and Russia since the Cold War is more than just a satisfaction for Russia’s president. The imprisoned Americans and Germans were presumably only in Russian prisons so that they could be exchanged for murderers, arms dealers and spies. Krasikow’s release in particular caused the German government a headache, including Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens), who apparently had considerable concerns.

Here Putin demonstratively embraces the Tiergarten murderer

Here Putin demonstratively embraces the Tiergarten murderer

02:02 min

Almost exactly five years ago, the contract killer murdered a Georgian named Selimchan Changoschwili in Berlin’s Tiergarten – with several shots at close range. The victim was a militia commander in the second Chechen war, so he fought against Russia and thus also against Vladimir Putin. Politically, the Kremlin chief benefited from this war, which was described as an “anti-terrorist operation”. First as head of government under President Boris Yeltsin, then shortly afterwards as his successor.

Krasikow was caught by the police by chance

After the war, Changoshvili sided with Russia’s opponents. He is said to have been an informant for Ukraine and to have spied for the Americans. In Germany he officially lived as an asylum seeker. The assassination attempt in the capital was not the first attempt to kill him, just the most successful. Vadim Krasikov was caught by the police soon after the attack, more by chance than anything else: young people had seen Krasikov throw a bicycle, a gun and a wig into the Spree, whereupon they informed the officers.

After a few months, it became clear to German investigators that the Russian government was behind the Georgian’s murder. The perpetrator remained silent, but in faraway Moscow, Kremlin chief Putin called the victim a “bloodthirsty and brutal person”. In later TV interviews, however, he called Krasikov’s act “patriotic”. And that is how he was received in Moscow. Personally by the president, including a saluting guard of honor.

Vladimir Putin: Traitors should not be forgiven

In Putin’s world there are enemies and traitors. The former are fought, but they could certainly win back his favor, as he once explained in a radio interview. The latter, on the other hand, “must not be forgiven, because they will stab you in the back.” To prevent this from happening, the FSB secret service agent was assigned to look after Changoshvili. The FSB is the Russian domestic secret service.

The fate of Vadim Krasikov has long been close to Vladimir Putin’s heart. There have reportedly been several attempts to bring him home through a prisoner deal with the West. In 2022, there were reportedly attempts to trade US basketball player Brittney Griner for Krasikov. Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison for possession of cannabis. She was ultimately released in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. The option of exchanging Krasikov for Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was also said to have been discussed.

Prisoner exchange was long in preparation

Vladimir Putin has repeatedly made it clear that he wants the “Tiergarten murderer” back and has also named the price. At the beginning of the year he spoke to US presenter Tucker Carlson about a possible prisoner exchange, and a little later he reported to international news agencies about an impending deal. His secret service is in contact with its American colleagues to “resolve the matter”.

Now Putin has his man back. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov immediately admits: “Krasikov is a member of the FSB.” And rumors are already spreading about the real reason. It is not pure loyalty among secret service agents, at least not alone. , who claim that Krasikov has information that could be dangerous for the Kremlin chief. Specifically, it is about the death of Putin’s political mentor at the beginning of his career. Whether there is any truth to that is unfortunately completely unclear.

Sources: DPA, AFP, , “Image”, “”,

Source: Stern

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