After a decision by the Higher Administrative Court, the ban on Russian flags at the memorial was enforced Photo: Christoph Soeder/dpa/BZ assembly
By Jan Schilde
The ban on Russian flags and symbols on the 78th anniversary of the liberation from war and fascism caused renewed anger. A comment from BZ editor-in-chief Jan Schilde.
It happened the way it had to. Instead of just a peaceful commemoration of the liberation from war and fascism, there was flag-fighting and a lack of understanding about the measures taken by the police.
Again, the security forces were completely overwhelmed by the situation. Again they enforced unnecessary bans as they understood them. And then things got pretty messed up.
Last year we had the same situation. After that everyone said: That was unworthy and shouldn’t happen like this anymore. And what happens? We see the same undignified situation. A spectacle that cannot be surpassed in terms of embarrassment.
The forbidden dangerous situation of the police does not exist. In order to do this, fundamental rights are being infringed upon without necessity. And on such a memorable occasion as well: we commemorate the end of the Second World War, the end of the Nazi regime. And remember that millions of people got their basic rights back.