Germany accuses Russia of having ordered the assassination of a Georgian in Berlin

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German judicial authorities accused Moscow on June 18 of having ordered the assassination of a Georgian of Chechen origin in 2019 in Berlin. Sanctions could be taken by Germany, said Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

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From our correspondent in Berlin ,  Pascal Thibault

The federal prosecutor's office decided last month to issue an arrest warrant against a Russian hacker accused of having participated in a severe computer attack against the Bundestag initiated by the Moscow secret services. A month later, the German judicial authorities accuse Russia of having ordered the liquidation in the middle of Berlin last August of a Georgian of Chechen origin .

The man had fought in his country of birth as later in Ukraine against the Russian forces. After his death in Berlin, Vladimir Putin had spoken of a "  bloodthirsty and brutal man  " to evoke Tornike K. wanted in Russia. His alleged murderer was arrested quickly after the incident in Berlin last summer. He has remained silent ever since.

The June 18 decision by the prosecution will further cool German-Russian relations. The German foreign minister said his country did not rule out sanctions against Moscow. Heiko Maas spoke of an " exceptionally " serious matter. The Russian ambassador to Germany has been summoned.

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