Putin demands extradition of Georgian citizen killer in exchange for imprisoned American journalist

Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded the extradition of a convicted murderer of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a Georgian citizen of Chechen origin, in exchange for the release of an American journalist currently imprisoned in Russia. 

Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, has been detained since March 2023 on charges of espionage. Putin, in an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson released on Friday, reiterated allegations that Gershkovich had been “engaged in obtaining sensitive information” and was working for American intelligence agencies.

The focus of Putin’s demands centered on Vadim Krasikov, who has been tried in Germany for the murder of Khangoshvili. Khangoshvili, known for his involvement in the Second Chechen War, was killed in Berlin on August 23, 2019. The Berlin court found Krasikov guilty of acting on behalf of the Russian government and sentenced him to life imprisonment in December 2021.

“That individual, driven by patriotic sentiments, eliminated a criminal in one of the European capitals”, Putin claimed. Earlier, he stated that the killing in Berlin must be attributed to “criminal disputes.”

Khangoshvili’s murder has been a source of international scrutiny, with accusations pointing to Russian involvement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia condemned Khangoshvili’s murder and called for a thorough investigation into the incident. 

 

Khangoshvili had fled Georgia following an assassination attempt in 2015.