Russian Vadim Krasikov, sentenced in Germany to life imprisonment for the murder of the Georgian citizen Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, was transferred from a prison in Berlin “to a special facility for prisoners awaiting deportation.” This may indicate that it is being prepared for exchange.

Previously, Krasikov was held in the maximum security wing of the Tegel Prison in Berlin, according to Welt. Sources of the publication connect the transfer with the concern of the authorities regarding his safety – Krasikov has been moved several times before from one penitentiary institution to another.

However, Tagesspiegel, reporting that Krasikov is now being held in Bavaria, simultaneously refers to Spiegel TV, which has information that, according to the documents, Krasikov was transferred to a “special institution for prisoners awaiting deportation” located in the city of Eisenhüttenstadt.

Tagesspiegel notes that rumors have spread in the Tegel prison about a possible upcoming exchange of Krasikov. The prisoners said that Krasikov was taken out of prison on October 2, and when he was taken out of his cell, he shouted “Putin, Putin”, publication sources in security circles deny this.

Officials do not comment on the situation. In the summer, the Berlin judicial authorities considered the possibility of including Krasikov in a prisoner exchange deal between Russia and the US and declared it unworkable.