German court verdict in Berlin killing poses policy problem

BERLIN – A Berlin tribunal volition present its verdict Wednesday successful the proceedings of a Russian antheral accused of a sidesplitting successful the German superior 2 years agone that prosecutors accidental was ordered by Russia.

The slaying of Zelimkhan “Tornike” Khangoshvili, a 40-year-old Georgian national of Chechen ethnicity, sparked outrage successful Germany and prompted the authorities to expel 2 Russian diplomats — and a reciprocal effect by Moscow.

The result of the proceedings could stoke caller tensions betwixt Germany and Russia astatine a clip erstwhile the caller authorities of Chancellor Olaf Scholz is trying to find its overseas argumentation footing with Moscow.

The victim's relatives, who nether German instrumentality were allowed to instrumentality portion successful the proceedings arsenic co-plaintiffs, accused Russia past week of trying to “send a message” to its governmental enemies by sidesplitting Khangoshvili, who had claimed asylum successful Germany 3 years earlier.

Federal prosecutors person asked the tribunal to condemnation the defendant, identified by them arsenic 56-year-old Russian nationalist Vadim Krasikov, to beingness successful prison.

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Prosecutors alleged that Krasikov traveled to Berlin nether the alias Vadim Sokolov successful August 2019 astatine the behest of the Russian authorities for a “state-contracted killing,” shooting the unfortunate from down with a silencer-fitted handgun adjacent the Kleiner Tiergarten park. With Khangoshvili lying connected the ground, Krasikov allegedly fired 2 much bullets into his head, sidesplitting him.

Witnesses saw the fishy propulsion a bike, a weapon and a wig successful the Spree River adjacent the country and alerted police, who rapidly arrested him earlier helium could marque disconnected connected an electrical scooter parked successful a doorway.

While nary pleas are entered successful the German proceedings system, defence lawyers this week asked the tribunal to acquit their client, saying helium isn't the antheral prosecutors allege him to be.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has called the allegations of Russian engagement successful the Berlin sidesplitting “absolutely groundless.”

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But months aft the killing, Putin said aft a gathering with past Chancellor Angela Merkel that the unfortunate had been a “bandit” and a “murderer,” accusing him of sidesplitting scores of radical during warring successful the Caucasus.

German-Russian relations took a further deed past twelvemonth aft Merkel intervened to alert poisoned Russian absorption person Alexei Navalny to Berlin for aesculapian treatment. Navalny says helium was poisoned by Russian agents, which Moscow denies. After returning to his location country, Navalny was sentenced to 2 1/2 years successful prison for violating the presumption of his probation portion convalescing successful Germany.

German's caller overseas minister, Annalena Baerbock, has called for a tougher stance toward Russia, particularly implicit its subject buildup adjacent Ukraine. But Scholz has called for a caller “Ostpolitik” — oregon argumentation toward the eastbound — of the benignant that his Social Democratic predecessor arsenic chancellor, Willy Brandt, pursued during the Cold War.

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