Secretive trial of Rico Krieger, 30, may be linked to Belarusian volunteer unit fighting alongside Ukraine against Russia

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@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    52·
    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.eeEnglish
      13·
      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