By Hildburg Bruns and Emma Neugebauer
Commemorating the end of the war in Europe 77 years ago – on the 75th day of Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Children die, families are displaced, cities are leveled.
In the old tanks at the memorial in Tiergarten (June 17) there are flowers from Berliners. In front of it, police officers roll up a huge flag in the national colors of the country invaded. A total of 1700 officers are deployed.
Yellow-blue is banned by the assembly authority at 15 memorials and memorial sites on this day. Just like the flag of aggressor Putin, as well as uniforms, marching songs, George ribbons, pro-Russian war howls.
The Ukrainian ambassador couple with a group of compatriots who fled from Lviv Photo: CHRISTIAN MANG/REUTERS
The Ukrainians standing around have to watch as their cloth is crumpled into an unsightly lump. “Glory to Ukraine!” they shout and “Glory to the heroes.”
Berlin’s CDU General Stefan Evers (42) carries a smaller yellow-blue flag through the Brandenburg Gate and his poster announces: “We choose freedom”. The politician is stopped a few meters later by the police: “Roll up!!!” A few steps further on, an employee even has to take her away.
Evers is outraged: “This decision is a shame for Berlin. May 8 reminds us: never again war! And it must be allowed to show solidarity with the victims of the Russian war of aggression – especially today, and especially in this place.”
Police officers roll up a large Ukraine flag at the Soviet War Memorial in Berlin-Tiergarten Photo: XBP/AP
The CDU man emphasizes: “It’s not just a question of freedom of expression, but also of decency.” Wolfgang K. (67) from Lichtenberg was also at a loss: “Today is a historic day. A discourse should be allowed to take place there.”
The CDU had a legal check as to whether the general decree of the police is permissible – after that no. Evers wants to have a complaint against the decision of the Senate before the administrative court today. Interior Senator Iris Spranger (60, SPD) threatens an embarrassing disaster.
Ukraine Ambassador Andriy Melnyk lays a wreath PHOTO: JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP
The other parties are also alarmed. Benedikt Lux (41, Greens): “The ban was a difficult consideration. Banning only the Russian flag would have been biased. But also the Ukrainian – this sign is not happy.”
And FDP interior expert Björn Jotzo (47) says: “The Senate has overshot the mark by far. Such images are devastating for the image of our city all over the world.”
FDP parliamentary group leader Sebastian Czaja (38) calls for flags from Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia and Georgia to be hoisted at the memorials in the future because they are no longer part of the Soviet Union.
CDU General Stefan Evers (42) comes with a white and blue flag and is stopped by police officers on Straße des 17. Juni Photo: Ralf Lutter
Ukraine ambassador Andrij Melnyk (46) had already condemned the flag ban on Saturday: “A slap in the face for Ukraine!” He called on the governing mayor Franziska Giffey (44, SPD) to withdraw the decision.
Giffey refused. There is no general flag ban, but only in 15 places. Also embarrassing: Melnyk was insulted by around 50 onlookers at the memorial.
Honecker’s successor and Baltic Sea pensioner Egon Krenz (85) has already protested against the delivery of weapons to Ukraine from GDR stocks Photo: REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch