Condolences to German authorities on the Christmas market tragedy in Berlin 2016-12-20 12:00:00 Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to Federal President of Germany Joachim Gauck and Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel over the Christmas market tragedy in Berlin. “This is a shockingly cruel and cynical crime committed against peaceful civilians,” the President of Russia said in a message of condolences. He passed on words of sympathy and support to the victims’ families and friends and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.