German court sentences a man accused of Khangoshvili’s murder to life imprisonment

The Russian citizen, whom a witness identified as Vadim Krasikov, an agent of the Russian special services, was sentenced by a Berlin court to life imprisonment in a case on the murder of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a former Chechen field commander.

The court recognized the special gravity of the guilt, which almost excludes early release of the convict. The verdict was in line with the requirement of the German Prosecutor’s Office, which took over the investigation due to the special importance of the case, Der Welt reports.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that according to the witness, he had not earlier identified Vadim Krasikov because of fear. Zelimkhan Khangoshvili’s murder was committed with aggravating circumstances, and such crimes are punishable by life imprisonment in Germany, says Dirk Lammer of the German Bar Association.

According to an investigation by The Insider*, Bellingcat, and Der Spiegel, Vadim Krasikov was serving in the FSB special forces “Vympel”. However, former special forces fighters called the conclusions of the journalists erroneous. The data contradict the previous version about the involvement of Ramzan Kadyrov’s associates in the murder of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili. Ramzan Kadyrov himself stated that the authorities of Chechnya and Russia had not been involved in the murder of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili. Members of the Chechen Diaspora believe that the defendant deserves a life sentence, but fear that he could be extradited to Russia.