The German Foreign Ministry is in consultation with the government of Belarus regarding the case of the German, who was recently sentenced to death by a court in Minsk.

“This criminal is a German citizen and there have of course been contacts with the German side on the matter. We understand Germany’s concern for him and have granted it consular access to the criminal, in accordance with international law and intergovernmental agreements,” Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Anatoly Glass told the VK network, according to Focus magazine. In his statements, Mr. Glass spoke of a conviction, but not of a death sentence, and noted that the Belarusian side has submitted “concrete proposals” for the development of the case, without however giving details. The two foreign ministries are in consultation on this, he said.

Germany’s foreign ministry, on the other hand, limited itself to confirming the case and stressing that Germany “fundamentally rejects the death penalty as cruel and inhumane.” As pointed out by a representative, the ministry and the German embassy in Minsk are providing consular support “to those affected” and “exerting intense pressure on the Belarusian authorities on their behalf”.

The case was made known only yesterday by the Non-Governmental Organization Wjasna, which reported that it is 30-year-old Rico Krieger. According to a post by Belarusian journalist Hana Lyubakova on the “X” platform, this is a military doctor of the German Red Cross and was sentenced to death on June 24. Krieger is believed by Minsk to be associated with the “Kastus Kalinouski” battalion, which serves Belarusians fighting on the side of Ukraine against the Russian army. The order has however stated that Rico Krieger did not belong to its ranks.

Wjasna also claims that the 30-year-old, who has been detained since November 2023, faces six criminal charges, including “acting as a mercenary”, “terrorist act” and “creating an extremist organization”, while also being accused of orchestrating explosions in Belarus.

The organization Wjasna, whose founder is the – jailed – 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate ‘Ales Bialatski, has been outlawed in Belarus and clarifies that it does not have precise information about the charges against the convicted German.

Belarus is the last country in Europe that still applies the death penalty. The executions are carried out by rifle and under conditions of extreme secrecy, on dates which are not announced. The bodies of the prisoners are not handed over to their families and they are not informed of the place of burial. These are usually male serial killers. In the past, the Minsk government has managed to exchange Western prisoners for “concessions” from the West, with the result that these prisoners are seen as bargaining chips in Belarus’ political negotiations with the West.