Status: 07/30/2022 09:58 a.m
In return for the release of two imprisoned US citizens, Russia has apparently demanded the extradition of the Russian convicted of the Tiergarten murder in Germany. However, the transfer is unlikely, according to the US broadcaster CNN.
The government in Moscow is said to have demanded the transfer of the convicted Russian in the so-called Tiergarten murder case in the negotiations on the release of two Americans imprisoned in Russia. This was reported by the US broadcaster CNN, citing sources familiar with the talks. Russia submitted this request to the United States earlier this month via informal intelligence channels.
According to CNN, the request was classified as problematic, among other things, because the 56-year-old is in prison in Germany. In addition, the Russian government is demanding the release of Russian arms dealer Viktor But, who has been imprisoned in the United States.
“No Serious Counteroffer”
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed a move by Russian officials. However, he firmly rejected the request. “Holding two US citizens hostage in exchange for a killer in a third country is not a serious counteroffer,” Kirby said. “This is a malicious attempt to evade a very serious US offer and proposal.” Russia must take the US offer seriously.
The US is currently trying to free US basketball player Brittney Griner and former US soldier Paul Whelan who are also being held in Russia.
Telephone call between Blinken and Lavrov
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently spoke to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov for the first time since the war in Ukraine began. The background is an offer from the USA to get Griner and Whelan released.
The US government has not yet released any details about the nature of the offer and has not confirmed that it will be a prisoner exchange. According to media reports, however, the US plan communicated weeks ago includes an exchange with the Russian arms dealer But, who is in prison in the US.
Citing a German government representative, CNN also reported that US officials had already contacted Germany to find out in principle whether the convicted zoo murderer Vadim K. could also become part of the exchange between the US and Russia. But that was never seriously considered, it said.
Life imprisonment for Tiergarten killers
In the so-called Tiergarten murder in August 2019, a Georgian was shot dead in the Kleiner Tiergarten park in Berlin. The Berlin Court of Appeal had imposed a life sentence on the Russian Vadim K. in December 2021. The judges were convinced that he was acting on behalf of Russian state authorities.
Russia denied these allegations. The case had led to diplomatic upheavals between Germany and Russia. Both states expelled several diplomats from the other country.