Russia’s ambassador to Germany pressed ahead on Friday with his controversial attendance at celebrations in the eastern town of Torgau to mark 80 years since US and Soviet soldiers famously shook hands at the Elbe River on April 25, 1945.
“Today we must remember the fallen soldiers,” Sergey Nechayev said in German at the event, surrounded by journalists and citizens. “The day is therefore very important for us.”
His participation had previously been disputed because of Moscow’s continuing military attack on Ukraine.
Shortly beforehand, Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev had called for the Russian to be barred from the event.
Asked what he thought about him not being welcome, Nechayev said: “I don’t feel it, I feel comfortable.”
“We have the opportunity to make our position known,” the diplomat added about his being denied the right to speak at the wreath-laying ceremony.
Saxony’s Premier Michael Kretschmer addressed the ambassador in Torgau with clear words on the war in Ukraine.
“It was Russia that started a war against Ukraine in violation of international law. Not in [2022], but back in 2014. And it is up to Russia, only Russia, to end this war,” Kretschmer said in the direction of Nechayev, who received a few boos from the crowd.
The ambassador spoke to some of the people attending, his lapel adorned with the St George black and orange ribbon. Traditionally considered a symbol of remembrance of the Soviet-German war, the ribbon has been criticized as a Russian propaganda symbol since Moscow first intervened militarily in Ukraine 11 years ago, culminating in the full-scale invasion of February 2022.
Sergei Nechayev (L), Russian Ambassador to Germany, and Michael Kretschmer, Minister President of Saxony, take part in the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Elbe Day at the Meeting Memorial in Torgau. On April 25, 1945, US and Soviet troops met in Torgau, and the photo of their handshake on the Elbe River became a global symbol of the end of the Second World War and liberation from National Socialist tyranny. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa