Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has granted a pardon to a German citizen, Rico Krieger, who was sentenced to death on terrorism charges. It is unclear whether Krieger’s capital sentence will be replaced with life in prison or if he will be released. Krieger has been accused of photographing military facilities and staging an explosion at a railway station on orders from Ukrainian special services. Belarus is the only country in Europe that carries out capital punishment.
Earlier on Tuesday, Lukashenko called a meeting to discuss an appeal from Krieger, who was convicted and sentenced to execution in June. Belarus’ Foreign Ministry claims to have proposed specific solutions for the situation and has been in touch with German officials. Germany’s Foreign Ministry is concerned about the case and is providing consular support to Krieger. Human rights activists believe that Krieger may have been a victim of a provocation by Belarus’ security agency, the KGB.
The accusations against Krieger come amid political repressions in Belarus following Lukashenko’s controversial re-election in 2020. Thousands of people have been arrested and beaten in police custody in a crackdown on protests. Krieger’s sentencing has raised speculation that Belarusian authorities could be working with Russian spy agencies to prepare for a possible exchange involving a Russian serving a life sentence in Germany. Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted at a potential exchange involving the Russian prisoner when asked about releasing a Wall Street Journal reporter recently sentenced to 16 years on espionage charges.
Krieger’s lawyer participated in the meeting with Lukashenko, who promised to consider the request for a pardon and make a decision later. Belarus has reached out to Germany regarding Krieger’s fate, but details have not been disclosed. The German government continues to provide consular support to Krieger. The case has drawn international attention to Belarus’ human rights record amid allegations of political repression and manipulation by security agencies. The situation highlights the challenges facing individuals caught in political conflicts between nations.
