A murderer is released in a prisoner exchange between Western countries and Russia. However, it is considered very unlikely that the deal could lead to a rapprochement in the Ukraine war.
After the extensive exchange of prisoners between Western states and Russia, the German government is asking for understanding for letting a Russian agent convicted of murder go. It is not foreseeable that the agreement with Moscow could help to reduce tensions or even end the war in Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock described the prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus and several Western states as a “highly sensitive dilemma”. She hinted at tough wrangling within the government. “Nobody in the federal government took the decision lightly,” said the Green politician in a radio interview with BR24.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stressed: “This was a very, very difficult decision.” It was a balancing act between different interests. “From our point of view, the good of freedom and the lives of prisoners – in Russia, in Belarus – was more important,” she argued. On the other hand, the release of a convicted murderer was a factor. She is referring to the “Tiergarten murderer” Vadim Krassikow.
Why Germany struggled with the Krassikow case
He was released on Thursday as part of the prisoner exchange. Under strict security precautions, he was flown from Karlsruhe to Ankara. The Berlin Regional Court sentenced the man to life imprisonment for murder in 2021. According to the verdict, on August 23, 2019, the Russian treacherously shot a Georgian of Chechen descent who had sought protection in Germany in Berlin on behalf of Russian state authorities. In return, Russia released prominent opposition figures such as Vladimir Kara-Murza, among others.
“The released opposition members can continue their important fight against Putin’s cruel regime,” said FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai. This exchange of criminals for journalists shows once again “that Putin’s Russia is on the wrong side of history.”
Concern for the safety of released Kremlin critics
However, after Krassikov’s departure, the question now arises as to how safe Kremlin opponents are in Europe and in Germany in particular. Potential assassins could be speculating that if they are arrested they will be released through a new exchange. This is especially true as some in the security authorities are concerned that the special Hungarian rule for guest workers from Russia and Belarus introduced in July could turn out to be a gateway for Russian agents who want to infiltrate the Schengen area.
Under the new regulation, workers from the two countries can come to Hungary for two years and then extend their stay for three years at a time as often as they wish. To benefit from the regulation, they only have to prove that they have a job, accommodation and health insurance in Hungary.
EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson called on the Hungarian government to explain itself. If the special rule “represents a risk, we will act,” she said. She did not elaborate on what that might mean in concrete terms. The President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Thomas Haldenwang, said in an interview with dpa in June that visa applications would be carefully examined in order to prevent so-called traveling Russian agents from infiltrating Germany. Anyone known to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and its partners as being involved in this matter would not receive a visa.
“It is correct and supported by the Federal Ministry of the Interior that EU Home Affairs Commissioner Johansson has demanded comprehensive clarification from the Hungarian government,” said a spokesman for the ministry. Detailed information is now needed in order to discuss possible consequences at the European level.
The danger of Russian espionage and sabotage is high and has increased since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which violates international law. “All EU partners should therefore increase their efforts to protect against Russian espionage and sabotage and must not create any potential gateways,” said the office of Federal Interior Minister Faeser.
Former Russian President and current Vice President of the Russian National Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, hinted that Moscow might pursue the released Kremlin critics abroad. He recommended on Telegram that the released “traitors” take on new names and “actively disguise themselves under the witness protection program.”
Pistorius not surprised by red carpet staging in Moscow
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) sees the extensive prisoner exchange with Russia as a negotiating success and calls for realism. “You can’t do one thing without accepting the other. That was the case here too,” he said on the sidelines of a visit to South Korea. “I think that the Chancellery negotiated excellently here, that good results were achieved together with others, but of course the impact can be disputed, because it is quite clear: one man’s loss is another man’s gain in this case.”
He was particularly pleased that “people who were innocently imprisoned in Russian prisons were able to be freed.” The images from Moscow and the reception for those released should not surprise anyone who has a good understanding of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Krassikow – “rewarded for his silence”?
The great interest Putin has in Krassikow could have another reason besides the general promise of protection for secret service employees, suspects CDU security expert Roderich Kiesewetter. “Krassikow was the key figure, a long-time colleague, friend, partner of Putin, they have known each other for over 30 years, and Putin was very keen to get this man released, because of course Krassikow knows a lot more than he revealed in his interrogations,” said Kiesewetter on SWR.
The Union politician, who is also vice-chairman of the Bundestag committee responsible for intelligence control, believes that Krassikov has now been “rewarded for his silence”. The Kremlin has directly confirmed for the first time that Krassikov is an agent of the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB.
Which Germans were released
A total of ten people were flown to Russia on Thursday. Three former Russian prisoners came to the USA: Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich, former soldier Paul Whelan and journalist Alsu Kurmasheva were greeted by US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris upon their arrival shortly before midnight (local time) and fell into the arms of their families amid cheers and tears of joy.
13 former prisoners were brought to Germany. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) received the released prisoners at Cologne/Bonn Airport. The prisoner exchange had been prepared for months by negotiators from Germany and the USA.
It was carried out with the support of the Turkish secret service MIT at the airport in Ankara. There, before the released prisoners were allowed to board the plane waiting for them, their identity was first checked.
The German citizens who were released are Rico K., who had been sentenced to death in Belarus, and four men who had been held in Russia – Patrick S., the 19-year-old German-Russian Kevin L. and the political scientist Demuri W., as well as the activist German M., who was accused of treason.
German deliberations for months
The “Tiergarten murderer” case involved a man who had been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder. The Berlin Higher Regional Court will hand down its verdict in 2021 – but due to the particular severity of the guilt in such a case, release from prison is normally almost impossible even after 15 years.
Kiesewetter also admits that the federal government found itself in a dilemma when making its decision. Chancellor Scholz had already spoken to CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader Friedrich Merz (CDU) about the planned exchange a few weeks ago.
US President Biden said the exchange was a “tough nut to crack” for the US allies. Germany and Slovenia in particular had to make decisions that were “against their immediate interests”. When asked what his message to Putin was, he simply replied: “Stop.”
Russia’s Ukraine war independent of prisoner deal
According to government circles in Berlin and Washington, the prisoner exchange will not have a direct impact on the situation in Ukraine, which has been invaded by Russia. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said he sees no connection between the negotiations about the prisoners and possible diplomatic efforts to end the war in the country attacked by Russia.
“From our perspective, these are separate issues,” Sullivan said in Washington. One issue concerns the practical issues of the exchange, Sullivan explained. “The other is a much more complex issue, where the Ukrainians will take the lead.”
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.
