A German combat medic accused by Belarus of committing crimes including “terrorism” and “mercenary activity” has been sentenced to death by firing squad, according to a Belarusian rights group.

Rico Krieger, 30, was convicted under six articles of Belarus’s criminal code in a trial held at the end of June, the Viasna Human Rights Centre reported on Friday.

Part of the proceedings were held behind closed doors, the exact allegations against Krieger were not immediately clear and Belarus’s official news agency did not report anything about his case.

The case may be linked to the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment, a group of Belarusian volunteer fighters fighting against Russia in the war in Ukraine, Viasna reported.

  • xmunk
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    4 months ago

    In case anyone was unclear.

    Do NOT step foot in Russua or Belarus right now - even if you’re “just a tourist” it’s an extremely poor time to plan your trip to Hermitage or whatever.

    • Tryptaminev@lemm.ee
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      4 months ago

      According to a LinkedIn profile Viasna said belonged to Krieger, he worked as a medical worker for the German Red Cross and as an armed security officer for the US embassy in Berlin.

      This guy being just a tourist is as probable as the Russian soldiers that “got lost” on vacation, ending up in Donetsk between 2014 and 2022

  • AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space
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    4 months ago

    Is the West holding any high-profile Belarusian criminals or spies in its prisons that they may want to trade him for?

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
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    4 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    A German combat medic accused by Belarus of committing crimes including “terrorism” and “mercenary activity” has been sentenced to death by firing squad, according to a Belarusian rights group.

    Rico Krieger, 30, was convicted under six articles of Belarus’s criminal code in a trial held at the end of June, the Viasna Human Rights Centre reported on Friday.

    Part of the proceedings were held behind closed doors, the exact allegations against Krieger were not immediately clear and Belarus’s official news agency did not report anything about his case.

    The case may be linked to the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment, a group of Belarusian volunteer fighters fighting against Russia in the war in Ukraine, Viasna reported.

    According to a LinkedIn profile Viasna said belonged to Krieger, he worked as a medical worker for the German Red Cross and as an armed security officer for the US embassy in Berlin.

    In a surprise move on Wednesday, Minsk announced it would open its borders visa-free to nationals of 35 European countries for 90-day trips, in an attempt to improve frosty relations with the west.


    The original article contains 445 words, the summary contains 180 words. Saved 60%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!