Pro-Kremlin bikers ride for Berlin defying bans from Germany, Poland
The 'Night Wolves' claim to be 'honouring the memory of those who fell to destroy fascism'.
Dozens of bikers from the pro-Kremlin gang the Night Wolves set off on a ride to Berlin ahead of the anniversary of the Soviet victory in the second world war, despite Poland and Germany barring the riders.
The bikers gathered on Saturday morning in a Moscow suburb to launch the ride to Berlin, planned to retrace the 6,000km march of Soviet troops through Belarus, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria.
The Night Wolves' long-haired, heavily tattooed leader Alexander Zaldostanov led a column of bikers waving red flags with portraits of Stalin and the wartime slogan "For the Motherland! For Stalin!" out of the gang's clubhouse in northwestern Moscow. Organisers said about 30 bikers aimed to travel the entire route to Berlin, but it was unclear whether they would be allowed to pass through after both Warsaw and Berlin made efforts to ban the riders.
A German government source had said that "entry has been refused to certain leaders of the Night Wolves and visas obtained on false pretences have been annulled."
Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz described the rally as a "provocation", and Warsaw on Friday refused entry to any organised biker group that includes the members of the Night Wolves," giving "organisational concerns" as its reason.
Russia's foreign ministry said it was "indignant about the refusal of Polish authorities" and accused Warsaw of lying about the real reasons it was barring the bikers. The Night Wolves are closely linked to President Vladimir Putin, who has joined the bikers several times at rallies, riding a Harley-Davidson trike, and called them his "friends".