On June 24, Rico Krieger, a 29-year-old German Red Cross employee, was sentenced in the Minsk Regional Court. He faced charges under six serious articles of the Belarusian Criminal Code, including “mercenary activity,” “agent activity,” “act of terrorism,” “creation of an extremist formation,” “intentional disrepair of a vehicle or communication lines,” and “illegal actions related to firearms, ammunition, and explosives.” According to the Telegram channel MotolkoPomogi, Krieger was sentenced to execution by firing squad, a fact confirmed by human rights defenders. Viasna reports the details.
What was the German citizen accused of?
Viasna states that Krieger was found guilty of “arranging an explosion to influence decision-making by authorities, intimidate the population, and destabilize public order (an act of terrorism), committed by a person with a prior crime under Part 4 of Article 295, as an organized group under Part 3 Article 289.” Based on this, Krieger received the death penalty. The specifics of the explosion remain unclear. Human rights activists also noted that his case involves the Kalinoŭski Regiment, particularly its foreign mechanized Western Unit.
How did the trial unfold?
Krieger had been in custody since November 6, 2023. Official agencies did not disclose his detention or trial outcomes. Aleh Lapeka handled the case, with state prosecution by Tatsiana Hrakun from the Prosecutor General’s Office. A translator was involved, and the verdict was given on June 24. The trial was partially closed to the public. This was the first trial in Belarus for “mercenary activity.”
It is unknown if the verdict has been appealed or if it is final.
What is known about the convict?
Rico Krieger, born in Berlin, worked as a rescue medic for the German Red Cross. He has a young child and previously served as a special security officer at the State Department in Berlin, gaining experience in Armed Security Operations. He later transitioned to healthcare, working as a nurse and eventually specializing as an emergency medical technician. Deepen
