Russian envoy to Poland doused in red by anti-war protesters
WARSAW (Reuters) -Russia’s ambassador to Poland was doused in a pink substance on Monday by individuals protesting in opposition to the struggle in Ukraine as he went to put flowers on the Soviet Army Cemetery in Warsaw to mark the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany.
The struggle in Ukraine has forged a shadow over this yr’s Victory Day, when Moscow honours the 27 million Soviet residents who misplaced their lives in World Conflict Two. Poland, a powerful supporter of Ukraine in its resistance to Russia’s invasion, opposed any large-scale commemoration happening.
Video footage posted on Twitter confirmed the protesters, some with Ukrainian flags, surrounding the Russian delegation and chanting “fascists” earlier than Ambassador Sergey Andreev was doused within the pink substance.
Andreev instructed reporters he and his workforce weren’t significantly harm within the incident, TASS information company reported.
“We are going to make a proper protest,” he stated. “Once they really useful that we not maintain a bigger occasion, we met them midway, we did not worsen the scenario.”
Earlier within the day the phrases “Kill Putin” had been discovered written in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag, on a monument on the cemetry, personal broadcaster TVN24 reported. The writing was later eliminated.
One protester interviewed by TVN24 stated it was good that the ambassador had been lined in pink.
“With all our coronary heart we’re with Mariupol,” she stated, referring to the southeastern Ukrainian metropolis that has been devastated by the struggle.
‘NEO-NAZI THUGS’
The Polish international ministry described the incident as “regrettable”. “Diplomats get pleasure from particular safety, whatever the insurance policies pursued by the governments that they signify,” it stated in a press release.
The Russian international ministry stated in a press release: “A powerful protest was expressed to the Polish authorities for virtually conniving with neo-Nazi thugs.”
It additionally demanded that the Polish authorities organise a brand new wreath-laying ceremony instantly after the incident compelled the suspension of the unique plan.
Poland, dwelling of the Solidarity commerce union that performed a key position in bringing down communism in central and japanese Europe, has lengthy had a tense relationship with Russia and is an advocate of robust sanctions in opposition to Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
Greater than three million Ukrainians have fled to Poland because the Russian invasion started on Feb. 24.
President Vladimir Putin calls Russia’s actions in Ukraine a “particular navy operation” to disarm the nation and shield it from fascists. Ukraine and the West say the fascism declare is a false pretext for an unprovoked struggle of aggression by Russia.
(Reporting by Alan Charlish, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk, Pawel FlorkiewiczEditing by Gareth Jones)
