Rico Krieger (Photo: LinkedIn)

On the initiative of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Viasna, Libereco and eight other international human rights organisations call on the Belarusian authorities to stop the execution of German national Rico Krieger. On 24 June, the 29-year-old was sentenced to death in Belarus.

On 24 June, German national Rico Krieger was sentenced to death by firing squad by the Minsk Regional Court in a secretive trial. As reported by Human Rights Center Viasna, Krieger, a former employee of the German Red Cross, was inter alia charged with “mercenary activities”, “terrorism”, the “creation of an extremist foundation”, and the “intentional disrepair of a vehicle or communication lines”. While the details of the case and the exact allegations remain unknown, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the death sentence on 19 July.

According to Viasna, Rico Krieger had been detained in November 2023, and convicted on 24 June 2024, in a trial partially held behind closed doors. It remains unknown whether Krieger appealed the sentence, with the Belarusian authorities and news agencies not reporting about the case at all. 

Krieger’s trial and conviction is the first known case based on the charges of “mercenary activity” in Belarus. His case might reportedly be linked to the activities of the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment, a Belarusian volunteer military unit within Ukraine’s Armed Forces fighting against Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

First death sentence of a foreigner in Belarus

As pointed out by Viasna, which monitors the application of the death penalty as part of the “Human Rights Defenders against the Death Penalty in Belarus” campaign, it is the first time since the beginning of the campaign in 2009 that a foreign citizen is sentenced to death in Belarus.

Belarus is the only country in Europe that still applies the death penalty, including for crimes like terrorism, treason or certain international core crimes, carrying it out against men only. In light of the grave human rights violations, many of which might amount to crimes against humanity, including the “numerous and systematic violations of the rights to due process and a fair trial” before Belarusian courts documented by the OHCHR, the use of the death penalty is particularly alarming.

Belarus must immediately stop the execution of Rico Krieger

FIDH, Viasna and the undersigned organizations urge the Belarusian authorities to immediately stop the execution of Rico Krieger regardless of the charges, and to fully abide by Belarus’s international human rights obligations, including the right to life, the right to be free from torture and ill-treatment, and the right to due process and a fair trial.

FIDH, as a founding member of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (WCADP) and a member of its Steering Committee, Viasna, and the undersigned organizations strongly oppose the death penalty for all crimes and in all circumstances, and recall that capital punishment inherently constitutes torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. The organizations therefore call on the Belarusian authorities to impose a moratorium and to make further progress towards the abolition of the death penalty. 

Signatories:

    • Belarusian Helsinki Committee
    • Belarusian Human Rights House
    • European Exchange
    • International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI)
    • Libereco – Partnership for Human Rights
    • Östgruppen
    • People in Need
    • Respect-Protect-Fulfill
    • Viasna
    • World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)

Update 30.07.2024: According to consistent media reports, the Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned Rico Krieger. The imprisoned German is said to have previously appealed to Lukashenko for clemency.

Update 01.08.2024: Rico Krieger has been flown out to Germany as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia. He is safe now.