Release of Convicted Russian Assassin Sparks Controversy
The convicted Russian assassin bounded off a plane in Moscow on Thursday, just hours after Germany made the decision to free him as part of a complex prisoner exchange with Russia. President Vladimir V. Putin welcomed him with open arms on the tarmac, marking the occasion with a heartfelt hug, indicative of the hero’s welcome that awaited him.
Zurab Khangoshvili, the brother of the Chechen exile who was brutally shot by the assassin, watched the unfolding scene from his home in Germany. With profound sadness, he described his feelings as he repeatedly scrolled through the footage of the event. “It squeezed my heart,” he lamented, reflecting on the loss of his brother. He expressed his dismay that no German authorities had informed his family prior to the release. “That man killed someone here, and then he went back to Russia to a welcoming ceremony with this huge red carpet. It was utterly unfair,” he added.
Germany played a pivotal role in the intricate negotiations that led to the exchange on Thursday, which resulted in the transfer of 16 prisoners to the West in return for eight prisoners to Russia. However, the most contentious aspect of the deal was the agreement to release Vadim Krasikov, who had been sentenced to life in prison in 2021 for the murder of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a Chechen separatist commander who had sought asylum in Germany.
Initially, the German government hesitated to consider the release of Krasikov, who was a primary demand from the Kremlin. Nevertheless, Chancellor Olaf Scholz ultimately overcame internal opposition within his government and took a decisive stance in favor of the exchange.
As the dust settles on this controversial decision, the focus now shifts to how the aftermath will unfold in Germany. On one hand, the release contradicts the longstanding German principle that political figures should refrain from interfering in judicial matters. On the other hand, criticism of Chancellor Scholz’s foreign policy has been relatively muted. Analysts suggest that this is partly because many of the most vocal critics of his approach achieved their own objectives—whether that be renewed engagement with Moscow or the moral satisfaction of having democracy activists released from incarceration.
