German citizen, who was sentenced to death in Belarus, hopes for pardon

Rico Krieger says German authorities 'unwilling' to put efforts to set him free

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - A German citizen, who was found guilty of working for Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) and sentenced to death in Belarus, said that he hopes for a presidential pardon.

In an interview with the Belarusian state TV, Rico Krieger, 30, said he hopes that Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko "will forgive and pardon" him.

He said that Germany is “unwilling” to put efforts to set him free. "I concluded for myself that Germany does not want to make any contact with Belarus. Although I have chances, but Germany is not doing anything."

On July 21, the Minsk regional Court sentenced Krieger to death, finding him guilty of "mercenary activities and terrorism."

The German Foreign Ministry said its diplomats are "in close contact with the Minsk authorities about the fate" of the German citizen.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry said they have offered Germany "concrete solutions."

Kaynak: