Belarus pardon for German hints at wider prisoner swap

The unusual case is prompting speculation Mr Krieger may be part of a swap involving prisoners in Germany and Russia

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersBelarus pardon for German hints at wider prisoner swapATN BelarusRico Krieger appeared in a heavily choreographed interview on Belarusian state television on FridayThe authoritarian leader of Belarus has pardoned a German citizen who had been sentenced to death.

Rico Krieger was arrested in October and had been accused of acting as a mercenary and of planting explosives. But news of his death sentence only became widely known last week.

Today’s intervention by Alexander Lukashenko means his death sentence is officially commuted to a life sentence and he will not be executed.

The unusual nature of the case, the sudden focus – and the equally sudden pardon – have all prompted speculation Belarus might be looking to release Mr Krieger in a high-profile swap involving prisoners in both Germany and Russia, a close ally of Belarus.

It comes days after Mr Krieger was shown in a film on Belarusian state television in tears and begging for help.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce78xl8r2xlo

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