TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarus' authoritarian leader on Tuesday granted a pardon to a German citizen who has been sentenced to death on terrorism charges.
It wasn't immediately clear whether President Alexander Lukashenko's decision means that the capital punishment will be replaced with life in prison for Rico Krieger, as it's usually done in Belarus in such cases, or whether he will be released. A Telegram channel that reports Lukashenko's decisions didn't offer specifics.
Earlier on Tuesday, Lukashenko called a meeting to discuss the appeal from Krieger, who was convicted and sentenced to capital punishment in June. Krieger's lawyer Vladimir Gorbach, who took part in the meeting, told the Belarusian state TV that Lukashenko said he would consider Krieger's request for pardon and announce his decision later.
Krieger has been in custody since his arrest in October 2023. Belarusian state media reported that he has been accused of photographing some of the country's military facilities and of staging an explosion at a railway station on orders from Ukrainian special services.
Belarus is the only country in Europe to carry out capital punishment.
Human rights activists noted that the accusations against Krieger came amid relentless political repressions in Belarus. More than 35,000 people have been arrested and thousands were beaten in police custody in a brutal crackdown on protests ignited by Lukashenko’s re-election in an August 2020 presidential vote that the opposition saw as a sham.
Pavel Sapelka of Belarus’ Viasna human rights group said that Krieger could have fallen victim to a provocation by Belarus’ top security agency that still goes under its Soviet name KGB, noting that some Belarusians have been convicted and sentenced for their remarks made on messaging chats that were created by KGB officers posing as Ukrainians.
Krieger's sentencing has raised speculation that Belarusian authorities could have acted in sync with Russian spy agencies eager to prepare a possible swap involving Vadim Krasikov, a Russian serving a life sentence in Germany for the 2019 killing in Berlin of a Georgian citizen of Chechen descent.
Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to hint at an exchange involving Krasikov when he was asked about the possibility of releasing Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. Earlier this month, Gershkovich was convicted and sentenced to 16 years in maximum security prison on espionage charges that he, his employer and the U.S. government have dismissed as fabricated.
Belarus' Foreign Ministry has said it was in touch with German officials about Krieger's fate and has “proposed specific solutions for the existing options for the development of the situation.”
Germany’s Foreign Ministry has said that the German government is concerned about the case and has been providing the man with consular support. It hasn’t given further details.
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Associated Press writer Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko talk to each other during a visit to the Chapel of the Valaam Icon of the Mother of God on the Svetly Island in the Ladoga Lake, Republic of Karelia, Russia, on Friday, July 26, 2024. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, left, walk during a visit to the Chapel of the Valaam Icon of the Mother of God on the Svetly Island in the Ladoga Lake, Republic of Karelia, Russia, Friday, July 26, 2024. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko talk to each other during a visit to the Chapel of the Valaam Icon of the Mother of God on the Svetly Island in the Ladoga Lake, Republic of Karelia, Russia, Friday, July 26, 2024. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko holds a candle while visiting the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Valaam monastery with Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the Valaam island in Ladoga Lake, Republic of Karelia, Russia, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
ATLANTA (AP) — Another big Atlanta crowd finally got a chance to see Lionel Messi in an MLS match.
They nearly watched United pull out a much-needed win over league-leading Inter Miami.
Alexey Miranchuk scored with a booming shot in the 84th minute and the home team pressed hard for the winning goal in stoppage time, only to settle for a 2-2 tie with Messi's Miami club before an announced crowd of 67,795 on Wednesday night.
After making a triumphant return to the Miami lineup with two goals and an assist last weekend, Messi started this game on the bench. Coach Gerardo Martino wanted to manage the minutes of his 37-year-old Argentine star, who is coming back from national team duties and an ankle injury with the club in the midst of a busy stretch.
Messi trotted on the field in the 61st to a big roar, shortly after Leo Campana scored off a deflected free kick to put the Herons in front. But the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner couldn't find the net in his limited time on the field, drawing plenty of attention from the United defenders.
“You've gotta keep an eye on him,” Atlanta keeper Brad Guzan said with a wry smile.
In June, Messi made an Atlanta appearance for Argentina in the opening game of the Copa America. But he didn’t play a year ago when Miami visited Atlanta, disappointing a crowd of 71,635.
He made the trip this time around, thrilling the crowd simply by warming up with three teammates shortly into the second half. Fans in the lower deck whipped out their phones and began snapping pictures.
Miami moved to 19-4-6 for 63 points with five matches remaining in the regular season. The Herons are eight points ahead of Cincinnati and LA Galaxy in the race for the Supporters' Shield and home-field advantage throughout the MLS playoffs.
Messi showed flashes. most notably with a point-blank shot that was swatted away by Guzan. Luis Suárez, who also came off the bench, collected the rebound with an open goal in front of him, only to be blocked at the line by Atlanta defender Pedro Amador.
In stoppage time, Messi dribbled around three players in the penalty area but failed to get off a shot. Finally, he threw up his arms in frustration when a pass was intercepted by Atlanta.
“Whoever plays, we try to support each other,” Miami defender Franco Negri said through a translator. “We know what Leo means, the importance he has.”
Martino was suspended for the match due to an accumulation of staff cautions, leaving assistant coach Javier Morales to run the team.
“I think we had a good performance,” Morales said. “But of course, Atlanta is at home. They're going to push. They had a big crowd, and this was the kind of game we were expecting.”
With the home team trailing 2-1, Miranchuk unleashed a left-footed shot from 20 meters out that found the top left corner of the goal.
United had been waiting for a moment like this from the Russian player who joined the club during the summer transfer window for reported $13 million fee, one of the highest ever for an incoming player to MLS. It was his first goal in four league matches.
“There’s not many goalkeepers in the world that are gonna save that one,” Guzan said. “That’s a glimpse of his quality and what he can do with the ball at his feet. We're trying to encourage him to do that more often.”
Both teams pressed forward in the closing minutes, with Atlanta creating the bulk of the chances, but neither could break through.
It was a discouraging result for Atlanta, which is 11th in the Eastern Conference and one point of out a playoff berth.
“We need three points,” Guzan said. “You have as many chances as we had, we should be coming away with three points.”
Miami grabbed the lead on David Ruiz’s goal in the 29th off another deflection. Negri’s pass hit someone just outside the area, somehow got through three other players and wound up going right to Ruiz, who was all alone between two Atlanta defenders and slid the shot past Guzan.
United tied it in the 56th when Saba Lobjanidze’s header slipped between the legs of Miami keeper Drake Callender.
Campana put the Herons ahead with a free kick that was intended for the right corner of the Atlanta goal. But the ball deflected off Dax McCarty and ricocheted into the net on the left side. Guzan, diving the other way, never had a chance.
Two minutes later, Messi came on for Julian Gressel.
UP NEXT
Inter Miami: Faces New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.
Atlanta United: Travels to New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) works in front of Atlanta United midfielder Ajani Fortune (35) during the second half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) works in front of Atlanta United midfielder Ajani Fortune (35) during the second half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi controls the ball during the second half of a MLS soccer match against Atlanta United Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi talks to a teammate during the second half of a MLS soccer match against Atlanta United Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Inter Miami defender Serhiy Kryvtsov (27) and Atlanta United forward Daniel Ríos (19) battle for the ball during thre first half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta United defender Derrick Williams (3) and Inter Miami forward Leonardo Campana (8) chase the ball during thre first half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta United defender Stian Gregersen (5) and Inter Miami forward Leonardo Campana (8) battle for the ball during thre first half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi leaves the pitch after during a MLS soccer match against Atlanta United Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi controls the ball during the second half of a MLS soccer match against Atlanta United Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10), right, and Atlanta United defender Derrick Williams (3) battle for control of the ball during the second half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
