Germany explains difficult decision to extradite killer Krasikov to Russia

It was not an easy decision to extradite to Russia the killer Vadim Krasikov, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany for the murder of a former Chechen field commander in Berlin, as part of a prisoner exchange. This was stated by the press secretary of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Steffen Hebe Streit, DW writes, UNN reports.

Details

"It was not an easy decision for the German government (extradition of Mr. Krasikov - ed.). On one side of the scale was the state's interest in executing the sentence of a convicted fugitive, on the other side was the freedom, physical well-being and - in some cases - ultimately the lives of innocent people imprisoned in Russian prisons and unjustly convicted political prisoners. Our commitment to protecting German citizens and our solidarity with the United States were important motivations," Hebestreit said.

The Russian service of the BBC reports that Krasikov was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a former Chechen field commander in the middle of the day in the center of Berlin.

Vladimir Putin spoke of his desire to return Krasikov to his homeland.

The German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, citing its sources in the German Federal Prosecutor's Office, reported that the office was disappointed with the decision to extradite Vadym Krasikov to Russia.

"This decision does not take into account the opinions of the relatives of the murdered man, but demonstrates 'excessive compromise' towards Vladimir Putin," the newspaper's sources said.

The media reported that Krasikov was allegedly an employee of the secret department of the Russian Federal Security Service.

Recall

On Thursday, August 1, the largest prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia since the Cold War took place at a Turkish airport. The released prisoners include journalists, politicians, and other citizens, a total of 24 people from both sides.