Lukashenko agrees to pardon German citizen sentenced to death

Alexander Lukashenko has decided to pardon 29-year-old German citizen Rico Krieger, who was sentenced to death by a Belarusian court in late June, a Telegram channel affiliated with the Belarusian president’s press pool reported on Tuesday.

Krieger was charged with six offenses, including terrorism, extremism, and mercenary activities. State prosecutors allege that he blew up a railway station at the instruction of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU).

On June 25, Belarusian state television aired an interview with Krieger in which he appeared to confess to collaborating with Ukrainian intelligence. He spoke through an interpreter and it’s unclear whether he was speaking under duress. At the end of the report, he was shown crying and asking Alexander Lukashenko to pardon him.

On July 30, shortly before Krieger’s pardon was announced, Belarusian state media reported that Alexander Lukashenko had “invited people involved in the process” to discuss Krieger’s pardon request.

The news of Krieger’s pardon comes amid widespread speculation that a prisoner swap involving Russia could be in the works. At least six Russian political prisoners have reportedly been transferred to unknown locations in recent days. Asking about the possibility of a prisoner exchange on Tuesday, the Kremlin declined to comment.