Kremlin Confirms Released in Prisoner Swap Russian Assassin Krasikov was an FSB Agent

Russia has confirmed that Vadim Krasikov, who was recently released by Germany as part of a historic prisoner exchange between the US and Russia, is an agent of the FSB, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. This admission contradicts earlier denials by the Russian Federation.

During a briefing on Friday, Peskov informed journalists about Krasikov’s status, as reported by the Russian agency Interfax.

Peskov disclosed that Krasikov served in the FSB’s elite “Alfa” unit, alongside bodyguards of President Vladimir Putin.

“Krasikov is an employee of the Federal Security Service. He served in Alpha. Interestingly, during his service, he worked with several members of the presidential guard. Naturally, they exchanged greetings when they met yesterday,” Peskov stated.

In late 2021, Krasikov was sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany for the 2019 assassination of a Georgian national of Chechen origin in Berlin. The court determined that Krasikov had carried out the murder on orders from Russian state authorities.

Upon his arrival in Moscow following his release, Krasikov was welcomed at the airport by President Putin with a handshake.

Krasikov’s release on August 1 was part of a historic prisoner exchange involving Russia, Belarus, the US, Germany, and three other NATO countries.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged that the decision to release Krasikov, a convicted murderer, was difficult.

Reportedly, negotiations between Western countries and Russia leading up to Thursday’s major prisoner exchange had been ongoing for more than two years.