INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Moscow on Friday refused to say whether a convicted hitman who killed a former Chechen fighter in Berlin four years ago was a Russian agent
after President Vladimir Putin hinted that he wanted him freed in a three-way prisoner exchange.In an interview with conservative pundit
negotiations over a deal to free Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.Krasikov is serving a life sentence in Germany for the 2019
killing of former Chechen rebel commander Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in a Berlin park, which German authorities say was ordered by Russian
accusations rejected by him, his employer and the White House.Putin said it was likely a deal to exchange Gershkovich could be reached, but
called on the United States to give in to Russian demands."There is a person serving a sentence in a U.S.-allied [country]
That person, out of patriotic sentiments, eliminated a bandit in a European capital," Putin said during the interview, referring to
Krasikov's case."Whether he did it of his own volition or not, that is a different question," he added.Asked outright on Friday whether
Krasikov was an FSB agent, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "I will leave that question without an answer."Washington has accused
Moscow of arresting American citizens in hopes of using them to secure the release of Russian spies abroad.In 2022, Russia freed American
basketball player Brittney Griner in exchange for the arms dealer Viktor Bout."I do not rule out that the person you refer to, Mr
