Germany warns its towns against letting Russia war memorials for its own propaganda
Germany warned against Russian efforts to “instrumentalize” events marking the 80th anniversary of WW2 after the Russian ambassador attended a local event.
The German government on Wednesday warned against Russian efforts to “instrumentalize” events marking the 80th anniversary of World War Two after the Russian ambassador to Berlin attended a local event in the eastern town of Seelow.
The commemoration marked the Battle of the Seelow Heights, one of the final battles in the war before the Soviet army’s march on Berlin and Germany’s capitulation in May 1945. At least 30,000 Soviet soldiers were killed in one of the hardest fought battles for Russia’s troops.
Russian ambassador Sergey Nechayev laid a flower at the monument to the battle. Military attaches from the embassies of Belarus and Kazakhstan, whose nationals fought in the Soviet army, also laid flowers at the site in Seelow.
A commemoration of the Battle of the Seelow Heights to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Seelow, Germany on Wednesday. Annegret Hilse / ReutersEarlier this year, Germany’s Foreign Office issued guidance to be cautious of Russian attempts to use 80th anniversary events for propaganda purposes.
It recommended municipalities to make use of their “host rights” not to invite Russian state representatives to commemorations.
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