Latest news with #Nechayev
Russia Today
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Berlin to ban Russian flags on Victory Day
Russian symbols will be banned at key Soviet memorials in Berlin during Victory Day commemorations on May 8 and 9, Berliner Morgenpost reported, citing the authorities. Berlin officials told the newspaper that a general decree is being prepared to block the display of Russian banners and commemorative items at the Treptow, Mitte, and Pankow memorials. The anniversary of victory over Nazism and the end of World War II in Europe is celebrated on May 9 in Russia and many post-Soviet states. In Western countries, the event is observed on May 8, known as Victory in Europe Day, Liberation Day, or Victory Day. 'The police in Berlin will again issue a general order prohibiting the display of Russian flags and banners on Victory Day,' the report stated. The move is aimed at preventing 'violence and the associated propaganda,' according to a police spokesperson quoted by Berliner Morgenpost. The decree mirrors last year's restrictions. In 2024, Berlin banned the flags of the Soviet Union, Belarus, and Russia, as well as wartime songs. The list of prohibited items extended to 'any flags linked to Russia' and elements of military uniforms, even if altered. The St. George's ribbon, a revered symbol of remembrance in Russia and several former Soviet republics, was also banned. At the time, the Russian Embassy denounced the measures as 'discriminatory' and accused Berlin of undermining 'historical reconciliation,' demanding that 'all the relevant bans be lifted.' In 2023, activists challenged a similar ban in court. Although a German court initially sided with the plaintiffs and partially lifted the restrictions, police overturned the ruling, reinstating the prohibition. Earlier this week, Bild reported that officials in Brandenburg plan to expel Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergey Nechayev from a ceremony marking the defeat of Nazi Germany. Despite the threats, Nechayev vowed to honor fallen Soviet soldiers. According to the tabloid, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Brandenburg's minister-president, Dietmar Woidke, intend to prevent such appearances. The Federal Foreign Office had earlier advised organizers against inviting Russian and Belarusian representatives to WWII commemorations. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned the move, saying it revealed the organizers' 'deep-rooted Russophobia.' Zina Schonbrunn, a member of Brandenburg's regional parliament, called the exclusion of Russian participation in the 80th-anniversary Victory Day events 'absurd.' On Wednesday, Nechayev and diplomats from several former Soviet republics laid wreaths at a Soviet cemetery in Potsdam without interference. Nechayev said many German citizens still honor the Red Army's heroic role in liberation.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russian ambassador booed at WWII commemoration event in Germany after showing up uninvited
Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergei Nechayev has once again appeared at a commemorative event without an invitation – this time, he showed up at a ceremony in the town of Torgau marking the 80th anniversary of the historic handshake between American and Soviet soldiers on the Elbe River on 25 April 1945. Source: German press agency dpa, as reported by European Pravda Details: Surrounded by journalists and local residents, Nechayev said: "We must remember the fallen soldiers, so this day is very important for us." Shortly before the event, Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev had called for the Russian ambassador not to be allowed to attend. Asked what he thought about not being welcome, Nechayev responded: "I don't feel that way, I feel comfortable." The ambassador spoke with several attendees. A black-and-orange ribbon, which Russians regard as a symbol of the Second World War, adorned his lapel. Sergei Nechayev. Photo: Russian Embassy in Germany Michael Kretschmer, Minister-President of the German state of Saxony, addressed Ambassador Nechayev with clear words regarding the war Russia has unleashed against Ukraine. "It was Russia that started the war against Ukraine in violation of international law. Not in [2022], but back in 2014. And only Russia, only Russia must end this war," Kretschmer said, addressing Nechayev, who was booed by the crowd several times. Kretschmer also acknowledged the enormous Soviet losses, but reminded those present that the final victory in the East was not solely Russia's. "Among them [the Soviet army – ed.] were many Russians, but also Ukrainians, Belarusians and Georgians. It would have been nicer, more appropriate, if we had been joined by representatives of Ukraine, Georgia or Belarus," he added. Kretschmer suggested that they may have refused to attend due to the presence of the Russian ambassador. Background: Last week, Nechayev also showed up uninvited at the Seelow Heights Memorial, accompanied by security and his Belarusian counterpart. Meanwhile, controversy erupted in Brandenburg after Nechayev announced plans to attend events marking the end of WWII, despite having his invitation revoked. Axel Drecoll, director of the memorial, stated that if Nechayev dared to appear, he would have to deal with the police. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russian diplomat stirs controversy attending WWII event in Germany
Russia's ambassador to Germany pressed ahead on Friday with his controversial attendance at celebrations in the eastern town of Torgau to mark 80 years since US and Soviet soldiers famously shook hands at the Elbe River on April 25, 1945. "Today we must remember the fallen soldiers," Sergey Nechayev said in German at the event, surrounded by journalists and citizens. "The day is therefore very important for us." His participation had previously been disputed because of Moscow's continuing military attack on Ukraine. Shortly beforehand, Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev had called for the Russian to be barred from the event. Asked what he thought about him not being welcome, Nechayev said: "I don't feel it, I feel comfortable." "We have the opportunity to make our position known," the diplomat added about his being denied the right to speak at the wreath-laying ceremony. Saxony's Premier Michael Kretschmer addressed the ambassador in Torgau with clear words on the war in Ukraine. "It was Russia that started a war against Ukraine in violation of international law. Not in [2022], but back in 2014. And it is up to Russia, only Russia, to end this war," Kretschmer said in the direction of Nechayev, who received a few boos from the crowd. The ambassador spoke to some of the people attending, his lapel adorned with the St George black and orange ribbon. Traditionally considered a symbol of remembrance of the Soviet-German war, the ribbon has been criticized as a Russian propaganda symbol since Moscow first intervened militarily in Ukraine 11 years ago, culminating in the full-scale invasion of February 2022.
Russia Today
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Russian envoy threatened in Germany over Victory Day celebrations
The German authorities have warned Russian Ambassador Sergey Nechayev that he could be expelled from events marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. The controversy erupted ahead of the May 9 celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, one of Russia's most revered holidays. On Monday, Nechayev and the Belarusian ambassador appeared at the Seelow Heights Memorial in Brandenburg around 50 miles (80km) east of Berlin to lay a wreath in honor of the fallen Soviet soldiers. However, Brandenburg's memorial director, Professor Axel Drecoll, has vehemently opposed Russia's participation in these events, issuing a veiled threat to obstruct access or even remove the ambassador from the premises if he continues to visit memorial sites without permission. 'We have banned the Russian Embassy from all anniversaries since the attack on Ukraine. If the ambassador comes anyway, we will enforce our house rules – in close coordination with security forces,' he said, as quoted by Bild. According to the tabloid, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Brandenburg's minister-president, Dietmar Woidke, have expressed their intentions to prevent these uninvited appearances in the future. The Federal Foreign Office earlier advised all organizers against allowing Russian and Belarusian representatives to take part in WWII commemorations. The Russian Foreign Ministry has criticized Germany's stance, with spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accusing the German Foreign Ministry of 'unmasking itself to reveal the ugliness of Russophobia and the hallmarks of Nazism.' Nechayev has defied this policy, telling the German Press Agency, 'We do not need a special invitation to honor the memory of the Soviet liberators and the victims of Nazism in publicly accessible places and to solemnly celebrate Victory Day.' On Wednesday, the envoy and diplomats from several former Soviet republics laid wreaths at a Soviet military cemetery in Potsdam without facing any opposition. Nechayev noted that these events are attended by German citizens who are grateful for the liberation from the Nazi regime. 'I am very glad that the German public, in spite of the well-known bans, remembers the heroic deeds of the Red Army and maintains the correct culture of remembrance,' he said, as quoted by TASS.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Germany will not invite Russia and Belarus to second world war commemoration
The ambassadors of Russia and Belarus will not be invited to the German parliament's commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the second world war's end over concerns they could 'exploit' the event for anti-Ukraine propaganda. The ceremony in the Bundestag lower house on 8 May marking the allies' defeat of Nazi Germany will include several representatives of the diplomatic corps in Berlin but bar the envoys from Moscow and Minsk based on 'the government's assessment on the invitation of representatives', a parliament spokesperson said. 'This assessment led to the ambassadors of the Russian Federation and Belarus, among others, not being invited.' The foreign ministry had previously sent out guidance to local, state and federal bodies to keep Russian and Belarusian representatives off their guest lists for official ceremonies marking the war's end, which the Bundestag described as a 'day of liberation from the National Socialist regime of violence'. The ministry expressed concerns that the envoys could 'exploit the events and maliciously connect them with the war of aggression against Ukraine'. Germany is a staunch supporter of Kyiv in its defence against the Russian invasion and its second biggest supplier of military aid after the US. Related: European defence stocks soar as arms makers expect orders boom The Bundestag official ceremony, its first major commemoration of the war's end since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, will include speeches by the German president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and the chamber's speaker, Julia Klöckner, who said she intends to emphasise the 'war's impact on women and lessons for today'. The spokesperson said the focus of the event in the 'forum of the nation' would be 'on the second world war started in 1939 by the Germans in Germans' name, with its millions of victims' and that no officials based abroad would be invited to attend. The embassies of Russia and Belarus did not immediately respond to requests for comment. But the Russian ambassador, Sergey Nechayev, criticised the foreign ministry's guidance as a 'bitter disappointment', telling the newspaper Berliner Zeitung that the traditional anniversary commemorations were 'part of the path to our reconciliation', which such decisions 'endanger'. The Bundestag's announcement followed a controversy sparked by the attendance on Wednesday by Nechayev at a commemorative anniversary event in the eastern town of Seelow. Organisers ordered a silent ceremony to avoid contentious statements but media images showed Nechayev being warmly greeted by local officials. Related: After 80 years of transatlantic ties, Europe forges a new alliance The Battle of the Seelow Heights, the biggest on German soil during the second world war, led to the deaths of 33,000 soldiers of the Red Army including fighters from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, among others, in addition to 16,000 German troops and 2,000 Polish soldiers. Ukraine's ambassador, Oleksii Makeiev, sharply criticised Nechayev's inclusion in the event as 'inappropriate', calling him 'a representative of a criminal regime that attacks my country every day with missiles, bombs and drones'. Conservative CDU/CSU Friedrich Merz, who is due to be sworn in as chancellor on 6 May, two days before the anniversary, has pledged to uphold Berlin's strong backing for Ukraine. The far-right, pro-Kremlin Alternative für Deutschland party makes up the largest opposition bloc in the new parliament following the 23 February general election. Germany maintains elaborate war memorials to the Red Army's role in defeating Adolf Hitler as part of agreements sealing national reunification after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the dissolution of communist East Germany. The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has frequently drawn on the legacy of the second world war to justify his invasion of Ukraine.
