German citizen Rico Krieger, sentenced to death in Belarus on charges of terrorism, has requested an official pardon, wrote "Pul Pervogo", a channel in "Telegram" close to President Alexander Lukashenko, quoted by Reuters, writes BTA.
Krieger's request comes at a time when Russia is negotiating with the West over a possible prisoner exchange that would include American journalist Evan Gershkovich. The journalist was convicted in a Russian court on charges of espionage, which he denies. Among those Russia wants freed is Vadim Krasikov, a Russian serving a life sentence for murder in Germany.
The German foreign ministry confirmed earlier this month that the German citizen had been sentenced to death in Belarus, a close ally of Russia that allowed Moscow to use its territory in 2022 to send troops to Ukraine , and the only country in Europe that still applies the death penalty.
In an interview with state TV Belarus 1 published last week, Krieger said that last October he was ordered by the Ukrainian security service to photograph military sites in Belarus and plant explosives on a railway line southeast of Minsk. The devices exploded, but there were no injuries.
It is unclear whether or not Krieger was speaking under duress. In the interview, he says he regrets his actions and hopes to be pardoned by Lukashenko.
Quoted by the national agency BelTA, Lukashenko said today that as president, he will have the "last word" in Krieger's case.
BelTA reported that Lukashenko invited people involved in Krieger's case to speak with him, but did not say who exactly they were. The agency published a photo of Lukashenko sitting and talking with five other people.
"I have already said once that the most difficult things in the president's destiny are such cases in which severe punishment is involved," Lukashenko said. "But we still have to make a decision. I want to discuss it with you," the Belarusian president added.