Belarus urged to suspend execution of German citizen accused of terrorism

We appeal to the authorities of Belarus to halt the execution of German citizen Rico Krieger - human rights defenders, including the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Belarusian Viasna, write in a joint statement. The 29-year-old German, whom a court in Minsk deems a terrorist, is set to be executed by shooting.

The District Court in Minsk sentenced German citizen Rico Krieger to death reported the opposition channel MotolkoHelp on Telegram. According to the statement, the man was accused, among other things, of mercenary activities, terrorism, creating an extremist formation, deliberate destruction of a means of transport, and illegal actions with firearms.

As stated, the German was a military doctor with the Red Cross. He left behind a young child in his home country. He was sentenced to death by the regional court in Minsk on June 24.

In Belarus, the death penalty is carried out by shooting. FIDH, Viasna, and other human rights organizations have appealed to the authorities in Minsk for the immediate suspension of the execution, regardless of the charges against the German, and for full compliance with Belarus's international human rights commitments, including the right to life, freedom from torture and brutal treatment, as well as the right to legal protection and a fair trial.

Viasna emphasized that in light of the serious human rights violations in Belarus, many of which can be classified as crimes against humanity, including numerous and systematic violations of the right to due process and a fair trial (…), the use of the death penalty is of particular concern.

As Viasna wrote on Monday, citing Belarusian propagandists, Krieger did not exercise his right to appeal, which means the verdict has become legally binding.

Officially, the authorities have not informed about the German's arrest or trial. However, they confirmed that he was sentenced to the highest penalty only after independent media published the information.

According to Viasna's information, Krieger was detained in October 2023. This is the first known case in Belarus regarding a trial for mercenary activities. The case has sparked many speculations, including reports that Krieger might have been associated with the Kalinowski Regiment, a volunteer formation of Belarusians fighting in Ukraine.

This is also the first known case to Viasna of sentencing a foreign national to death since 2009 when the organization launched the campaign "Human rights defenders against the death penalty in Belarus," within which it monitors — with great difficulty, as the state does not have an information policy on this matter — the use of the death penalty and the execution of sentences.