In a recent development, a court in Belarus has sentenced German national Rico Krieger to death by firing squad, as reported by the human rights organization Viasna. Krieger, held in custody since November 6, 2023, has been convicted of six serious offences under the nation’s Criminal Code. These charges include “mercenary activity,” “agent activity,” and “act of terrorism,” among others.
The German Foreign Ministry has expressed its awareness of the sentencing and condemned the use of the death penalty, labeling it as “cruel and inhuman.” Krieger, a former Red Cross employee who also worked as a special security officer for the US State Department in Berlin, has been linked by the Belarusian Hajun Project to the Kalinouski Regiment, a Belarusian volunteer regiment siding with Ukraine against Russia.
Viasna has highlighted that the specifics of the “explosion” referenced during the trial remain unclear. It’s worth noting that this is the first instance of Belarus prosecuting an individual for “mercenary activity.” The country’s approach to the death penalty remains controversial, as it is the only European nation to impose such a sentence, maintaining secrecy around execution dates and burial locations.
The European Union has consistently criticized Belarus for its lack of transparency and reported violations of the right to a fair trial, as seen in their official statements. More details on this case can be found in the original report by JURIST.