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The Russian community in Germany is threatened with serious disruption due to marking the day of victory against fascism. Large demonstrations are expected in Germany on this day.
A serious rift is taking place in the Russian-speaking community in Germany – between pro-Russian demonstrators marching on various German cities and protesting in support of Putin’s policies and the vast majority of Putin critics condemning the Russian war and aggression at solidarity rallies. with Ukraine. It is a rift that also divides families, friends and disrupts relations between them, sometimes leading to violent clashes.
On May 9 this rift could be even deeper. Because on the day when Russia celebrates its most important holiday, the Red Army victory over Hitler’s Germany in 1945, pro-Russian groups want to take to the streets again. In recent years, Putin has increasingly misused the commemoration of this date for his propaganda. This should play an even bigger role in this year of war, even in Germany.
Possible escalation
“There is a growing concern that the numerous events announced to mark the last day of World War II on May 8 and 9 – according to the State Criminal Police Office in Berlin alone, 30 events are expected – could lead to an escalation.” says Fabio Ghelli from the Integration platform, an information platform on the topics of escape, migration and discrimination. Medina Schaubert shares the same opinion. The director of the Berlin Vision Association deals with the Kremlin’s state propaganda studies and warns that reports of Putin-friendly demonstrations could present a distorted picture of the Russian-speaking community in Germany.
“We are trying to fight this,” Schaubert said in an informative online presentation hosted by the Integration media service. Because reports of rallies by Putin supporters go to the benefit of Russian propaganda. “A convoy is just happening here, RIA Novosti [Agjencia Ruse për Informacionin Ndërkombëtar] immediately posts a video on its online portal. ” This has an empowering effect, because it is seen by Russians living in Germany, who may be victims of this propaganda and say: “People are taking to the streets for this, why not me?”
Disruption and propaganda
About 3.5 million people belong to the Russian-speaking community in Germany. Among them are immigrants from Russia, but also from other countries of the former Soviet Union. But there is no current data on which media they use for information. Russian state media plays an important role in some families, with a divisive effect. Therefore, it is even more important, Medina Schaubert explains, to report on counter-demonstrations and demonstrations of solidarity with Ukraine, “of which there will be many on May 8 and 9”.
Ukrainian women – protest in front of the chancellor’s office demand tougher sanctions, 04.05.2022
According to Schaubert, the image of the Russian-speaking community should not be portrayed that these people depend only on Putin. “The rift between Russian-speakers and the rest of society will intensify if that happens.” The director of the association is also a victim of Putin’s propaganda machine. Since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, she has not been able to speak to two of her relatives. “I know very well that if we sit at a table, we will shout at each other for two or three hours and we will part badly. Both relatives are enthusiastic and obey Putin’s thoughts, “even though they have never been to Russia to appreciate him,” says Schaubert.
Russian speaking groups
Sergei Prokopkin, an anti-discrimination lawyer and trainer, warns against fake news and Russian propaganda, which targets alleged anti-Russian crimes. In the case of convoys against alleged Russophobia, there is sometimes talk of fabricated incidents of discrimination that have never occurred, he says. The convoys are not very useful, “it tends to create hatred” against people from Ukraine, said Prokopkin.
Three groups can be seen in the Russian-speaking community, says Tatiana Golova, a sociologist at the Center for Eastern and International European Studies in Berlin: politically active opponents of the attack in Ukraine, outspoken people and those protesting against discrimination against Russian-speakers in Germany, and “They support the Russian state and its aggressive foreign policy.” These groups oppose each other and the rallies organized by them.
Pro-Russian demonstration in Frankfurt
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser will closely monitor pro-Russian rallies on May 9th. On April 10, she wrote on Twitter that police are watching closely who is supporting Putin’s aggression. They risk being prosecuted in Germany. “I am for consistent action whenever the threshold of criminal responsibility is exceeded. “Here as a state we have a mandate for protection.”
A poll by the Integration media service says authorities have so far registered about 1,700 illegal acts since the Russian aggression on February 24. Most of these acts involve property damage, such as broken windows, car tire bursts, or graffiti on buildings.
More than 200 works per week
The crimes were directed against individuals or businesses, people of Ukrainian and Russian origin. Occasionally there have been acts of violence. “The Federal Criminal Police Office talks about 200 crimes a week, but the trend is declining,” said a study by the portal.
Another result of the poll is that more than 170 investigations have been launched in Germany so far, regarding the use of the Z symbol. The Z symbol is considered a sign of approval for the Russian aggression war against Ukraine./DW
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