Authorities in Germany will expel two Russian diplomats after a German court ruled that Russia ordered the killing of an ethnic Chechen in Berlin two years ago, German Foreign Minister Analena Berbok (pictured) was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
Burbock summoned the Russian ambassador to Germany for talks.
The killing was a “serious violation of German law and the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Germany,” she said.
Russia will respond reciprocally to Germany, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted as saying by Reuters. In a statement in the Telegram, she called the German move “unfriendly”, BTA reports.
A Russian citizen was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for the daring murder in broad daylight in Berlin, which, according to the court in the German capital, was ordered by the Russian federal authorities. The court described the case as “state terrorism”.
The assassination of 40-year-old Georgian citizen of Chechen origin Zelimkhan “Tornike” Hangoshvili has sparked a wave of outrage and diplomatic tensions between Moscow and Berlin. The German government has already expelled two Russian diplomats, which was followed by a reciprocal response from Russia, the AP recalls.
The Berlin district court said in its ruling that Russian authorities had provided 56-year-old Vadim Krasikov with a false identity, a fake passport and the funds he needed to carry out the August 23, 2019 murder.
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