Russia has opened a criminal investigation against Michael Martens, a correspondent for Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), over remarks he made about killing Russians.

Axar.az informs that TASS reported Saturday, citing an informed source.

“The case against Martens was opened under part 2, Article 282 of the Russian Criminal Code, which is inciting hatred or enmity,” the source said.

According to TASS, authorities are considering placing Martens on an international wanted list and ordering his pretrial detention in absentia. If convicted, he could face up to six years in prison.

During a news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Martens asked what European countries could do to “help kill more Russians.”

The remarks prompted an online petition calling for his dismissal. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described Martens’s comments as unacceptable and criminal.