German government declares two Russian diplomats persona non grata following 'Tiergarten murder' verdict

On December 15, 2021, the German government declared two Russian embassy officials persona non grata following a Berlin chamber court ruling that sentenced a 56-year-old Russian man to life imprisonment for murdering a Georgian asylum seeker of Chechen descent in Berlin's Tiergarten park in August 2019. The court determined that the killing was conducted on behalf of Russian state authorities. The victim had been classified as a terrorist by Russian agencies due to his participation in the Chechen war against Russia. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock characterized the murder as a grave breach of German law and sovereignty and emphasized the need for dialogue with Russia based on international law and mutual respect. Russian Ambassador Sergej Netschajew denounced the verdict as politically motivated and announced an unspecified diplomatic response. Previously, Germany had expelled two Russian diplomats after initial investigation findings, and Russia had reciprocated. This diplomatic expulsion signals a serious strain on German-Russian relations triggered by the court ruling.