New Delhi: Vadim Krasikov, the central figure in the most significant US-Russia prisoner swap since the Cold War, has been a controversial figure due to his involvement in the assassination of a Chechen rebel in Berlin. This incident raised numerous questions about Russias methods and priorities under President Vladimir Putin.The Berlin assassinationOn a bright August day in 2019, three bullets from a Glock pistol ended the life of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a former Chechen militant, in the heart of Berlin. The assassination occurred near the office of then Chancellor Angela Merkel and the German Parliament. Krasikov, the assassin, followed Khangoshvili on a bicycle, shot him, and then attempted to evade capture by changing his clothes, discarding his wig, shaving his beard, and dumping the bicycle in a river.Aftermath of the FSL reportIn a major development, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) confirmed that the explicit videos featuring Krasikov are authentic and not altered. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) had sent these videos to the FSL to determine their authenticity. The report stated that the physical attributes in the videos closely matched those of Krasikov.Prisoner swap with USKrasikovs arrest led to significant diplomatic tensions, culminating in the largest post-Soviet prisoner swap between Russia and the US, involving 26 prisoners. President Putin personally welcomed Krasikov and the other returnees at Moscow airport.Conviction and chargesKrasikov, 58, was charged with especially serious aggravating circumstances for the murder of Khangoshvili. He was sentenced to life in prison in 2021. The judge labeled the murder as state terrorism, suggesting that the order could have only come from Putin himself. Evidence presented in court indicated that the Russian state was involved, as Krasikov had official Russian papers under a false identity.Who is Vadim KrasikovBorn in Kazakhstan in 1965, Krasikov was associated with Russias FSB state security service and became a specialist assassin. He entered Germany under the false identity of Vadim Sokolov and was arrested minutes after the assassination.Why is he importance for PutinFor Putin, securing Krasikovs release was crucial for maintaining the morale and loyalty of Russian operatives. As a former KGB officer, Putin places high importance on ensuring that Russian agents know they will be supported and potentially rescued if caught during covert operations.World leaders reactThe decision to free Krasikov was complex and controversial. German Chancellor Olaf Scholzs spokesperson, Steffen Hebestreit, highlighted that protecting German citizens and showing solidarity with the US were key motivations for the swap. Putin referred to Krasikov as a patriot, underlining the importance of the release for future intelligence missions.
