Ukraine war: Pro-Russia protesters rally in Germany, demanding an end to discrimination
- Germany is home to 1.2 million people of Russian origin and 325,000 from Ukraine. Authorities fear the protests used to promote Moscow’s war narrative
- Around 800 people descended on Frankfurt on Sunday to protest ‘against hatred and harassment’
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 on Sunday, police said, amid a sea of Russian flags to protest “against hatred and harassment”, an Agence France-Presse journalist saw. There was a heavy police presence.
The protesters were outnumbered by 2,500 people taking part in a counterdemonstration in support of Ukraine.
“I came here because I support peace,” Ozan Yilmaz, 24, said. “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.
“It has been going on since 2014 and so I find that speaking of an attack (against Ukraine by Russia) is not really appropriate.”