Pro-Russia protesters rallied in Germany on Sunday, the country’s significant Russian-speaking population demanding an end to the discrimination it says it has suffered since war began in Ukraine.
Germany is home to 1.2 million people of Russian origin and 325,000 from Ukraine. Authorities fear the conflict could be imported into Germany and the protests used to promote Moscow’s war narrative.
Police have recorded 383 anti-Russian offences and 181 anti-Ukrainian offences since the Kremlin’s invasion started on February 24.
Around 800 people descended on financial hub Frankfurt Sunday, police said, amid a sea of Russian flags to protest “against hatred and harassment”, an AFP journalist saw. There was a heavy police presence.
The protesters were outnumbered by 2,500 people taking part in a counter-demonstration in support of Ukraine.
“I came here because I support peace,” Ozan Yilmaz, 24, told AFP. “Children are beaten at school because they speak Russian, that’s not acceptable.”
Sebastian, 25, was also in the pro-Russia crowd. “The war didn’t start this year,” he said… Read More (Barron’s)
Meanwhile Zelensky