Yulia Navalnaya and two opposition politicians freed in a prisoner exchange led a couple of thousand protesters through Berlin on a peace march.
BERLIN A couple of thousand people demonstrated against the war in Ukraine in Berlin on Sunday. In slogans and signs, they accused Putin of being a murderer and demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.
“Good luck to Ukraine” and “Ukraine’s victory is also our victory”, read the signs.
The demonstration was called by opposition representatives living in exile in Russia Yulia Navalnaya, Ilya Yashin and Vladimir Kara-Mursa. The first is the widow of the opposition politician Navalny, who died in prison, and the latter were released from Russia in a prisoner exchange last summer.
Ukrainians and Germans were also among the demonstrators.
– Down with Putin, the audience shouted after Navalnaya.
– It’s painful to see how my home country works, and there’s nothing you can do about it, living in Berlin Sergey H. says.
Ambassador of Ukraine to Berlin accused the demonstration already in advance as a media stunt intended only for the German public.
According to him, when there is loud opposition to Putin, the fact that the majority of Russians are only watching the war from the sidelines remains in the background.
Russian citizen living in Nice Valeria Alekhina dispute Oleksij Makejewin argument. Alekhina begins to cry as she explains why she thought it was important to come to the demonstration.
With his participation, he specifically wanted to show that alongside Putin “and his gang” there is also another Russia.
– Every morning, when I wake up and hear the news that Ukrainian children have died again, I feel pain.
– It is clear that propaganda works well in Russia and Russians support Putin. But the other Russia is here. We may be a minority, but we have an impact too.