Employee of the German Red Cross sentenced to death in Belarus

On June 24, a 29-year-old employee of the German Red Cross, Rico Krieger, was sentenced in the Minsk Regional Court. In Belarus, he was charged under six serious articles of the Criminal Code at once: "mercenary activity" (Article 133), "agent activity" (Article 358-1), "act of terrorism" (Part 3 of Article 289), "creation of an extremist formation" (Part 3 of Article 361-1), "intentional disrepair of a vehicle or communication lines" (Part 4 of Article 309), "illegal actions in relation to firearms, ammunition and explosives" (Part 4 of Article 295). According to the information of the Telegram channel MotolkoPomogi, according to the results of the trial, he was sentenced to execution by firing squad. Human rights defenders have received confirmation of this information. Viasna reports the details.

What was the German citizen accused of?

According to Viasna, Rico Krieger was found guilty of "arranging an explosion in order to influence decision-making by authorities, intimidate the population, destabilize public order (an act of terrorism) committed by a person who had previously committed a crime under Part 4 of Article 295 of the Criminal Code, as an organized group, that is, committing a crime under Part 3 Article 289 of the Criminal Code". On the basis of it, Krieger was sentenced to the death penalty (execution by firing squad). It is still unclear what explosion they talk about. Human rights activists also learned that the case of the military doctor concerns the Kalinoŭski Regiment, namely its structural unit, the foreign mechanized Western Unit.

How did the trial unfold?

Rico has been in custody since November 6th, 2023. The official agencies did not report anything about his detention or the results of the trial. Aleh Lapeka handled the case. The state prosecution was supported by a representative of the Prosecutor General's Office Tatsiana Hrakun. A translator was involved in the process. The verdict was handed down on June 24. The trial was partially held behind closed doors. It should be noted that this was the first trial in Belarus for "mercenary activity".

It is currently unknown whether the verdict has been appealed and whether it has entered into force.

What is known about the convict?

Rico Krieger was born in Berlin and worked as a rescue medic for the German Red Cross. The man had a minor child at home. It is also known that Rico Krieger previously worked as a special security officer at the State Department in Berlin, where he gained experience in Armed Security Operations. After this position, he moved into healthcare, worked as a nurse, and eventually specialized in emergency medicine as an emergency medical technician.

The article will be updated.