German doctor sentenced to death in Belarus on terrorism charges

The district court in Minsk issued a death sentence in the case of a German citizen, according to the opposition channel MotolkoPomogi on Telegram. According to foreign media reports, the convicted man is 30-year-old Rico Krieger. Information from the Human Rights Center Viasna indicates he is a Red Cross military doctor.

The convicted man was accused of mercenary activities, espionage, acts of terrorism, creating an extremist formation, willful destruction of a means of transport, and illegal actions with weapons.

The opposition channel MotolkoPomogi, run by activist Anton Motolka, reported on Telegram that Krieger was sentenced to death by shooting. However, the Human Rights Center Viasna stated that it currently has no confirmation of this information but is trying to ascertain the fate of the German citizen.

Independent Belarusian and Russian media confirmed that Krieger appeared in court. The trial began on June 6, and since then, 12 hearings have occurred. Judge Aleh Lapeka presided over it. The verdict was issued on June 24. It is unknown whether an appeal has been filed.

Human rights defenders from Viasna do not have information on the specific charges against Krieger, and official structures have not reported an arrest in a similar case.

Portal Zierkało reports that Krieger has worked as a paramedic since 2021. Between 2014 and 2017, he was reportedly a security guard at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin.

The German Foreign Ministry stated that Berlin is in intensive contact with authorities in Minsk regarding his fate. "The case is known to the Foreign Ministry. The Foreign Ministry and the embassy in Minsk are providing consular support to the person concerned and are working hard on his behalf with the Belarusian authorities," the statement said.

Belarus is the only country in Europe and the post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States where the death penalty is still carried out. The sentence is executed by shooting.

According to human rights defenders’ estimates, since the establishment of independent Belarus, around 400 executions have been carried out.