Putin is ready to exchange the arrested American journalist for the killer Zelimkhan Khangoshvili

In an interview with American TV presenter Tucker Carlson, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is ready to exchange The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich for Russian citizen Vadim Krasikov. The latter is serving a life sentence in Germany for the murder of Chechen Zelimkhan Khangoshvili.

A journalist accused of spying by Russian authorities could be exchanged if there is “countermovement,” Putin said. Putin hinted that Krasikov committed the murder of Khangoshvili in Germany on the orders of Russia: “A patriot was found who eliminated him in one of the European capitals. Whether he did it of his own free will or not is another question.”

Former Chechen field commander Zelimkhan Khangoshvili came to Germany in 2016 and received asylum. His murder took place on August 23, 2019 in Berlin's Little Tiergarten park. According to investigators, Krasikov (aka Sokolov) rode up to the victim on a bicycle and fired two shots. On the same day he was arrested and brought to justice. The media reported that the killer was an FSB officer.

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