In the Berlin Tiergarten murder trial, a Ukrainian witness identified as the brother-in-law of accused Vadim Krasikov testified that Krasikov was affiliated with Russian intelligence agencies FSB and Vympel and suggested a personal connection to President Vladimir Putin. The witness made these serious allegations not in court but in a Kyiv video interview with journalists from The Insider, Bellingcat, and Der Spiegel, leading to disputes over his credibility and potential legal risks for bypassing the court process. Defense lawyers criticized the media for amplifying the witness's claims, while the prosecution sees him as key due to scarce alternative testimonies. The court holds a 70-minute video of this interview, set for possible use during the trial. Additional witnesses from Ukraine might also be called. The evidence includes video and tattoo identification linking Krasikov to the Russian National Guard, supporting the hypothesis of state involvement in the assassination. The politically charged nature of the case underscores tensions surrounding Russian covert operations in Europe.

In the Berlin Tiergarten murder trial, a Ukrainian witness identified as the brother-in-law of accused Vadim Krasikov testified that Krasikov was affiliated with Russian intelligence agencies FSB and Vympel and suggested a personal connection to President Vladimir Putin. The witness made these serious allegations not in court but in a Kyiv video interview with journalists from The Insider, Bellingcat, and Der Spiegel, leading to disputes over his credibility and potential legal risks for bypassing the court process. Defense lawyers criticized the media for amplifying the witness's claims, while the prosecution sees him as key due to scarce alternative testimonies. The court holds a 70-minute video of this interview, set for possible use during the trial. Additional witnesses from Ukraine might also be called. The evidence includes video and tattoo identification linking Krasikov to the Russian National Guard, supporting the hypothesis of state involvement in the assassination. The politically charged nature of the case underscores tensions surrounding Russian covert operations in Europe.