German National Sentenced to Death in Belarus: A Tale of International Tensions

German national Rico Krieger has been sentenced to death in Belarus on charges of terrorism and mercenary activity. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock have expressed deep concern, condemning Belarus's actions. The German government is working to ensure Krieger's rights and safety.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz is acutely aware of the precarious situation involving a German national, Rico Krieger, who has been sentenced to death in Belarus, according to a government spokesperson on Friday.

Last week, Germany's foreign ministry confirmed Krieger's sentence, which Belarusian human rights group Viasna attributes to charges related to terrorism and mercenary activities. 'Like the entire federal government, he (Scholz) is concerned about these events,' a German government spokesperson said during a press conference.

Krieger, identifying himself as an emergency services worker, was reportedly instructed by Ukraine's SBU security service to take photos of military sites and place a backpack on train tracks near Minsk, which later exploded without causing injuries. Krieger has publicly pleaded for mercy from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

(With inputs from agencies.)