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A authorized tussle was unfolding in Berlin on Monday over an try by the police within the German capital to ban Russian flags at Victory Day celebrations this week.
Earlier than Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Berliners and Russians would collect on the metropolis’s monuments to commemorate Victory Day, the Might 9 vacation in Russia that marks the Soviet conquer Nazi Germany. However for the reason that begin of the invasion, the monuments have grow to be staging factors for pro-Russian activists.
Though a majority of Germans help Ukraine in its protection in opposition to Russia’s invasion, a vocal minority — which incorporates members of the big Russian diaspora in addition to far-right activists — helps Moscow.
Final week, the Berlin police introduced a ban on symbols, uniforms, songs and flags that might be seen to help Russia’s invasion throughout Victory Day commemorations, citing the chance of violence. The measure, much like one instituted final yr, utilized to a few main memorial occasions on Monday and Tuesday.
The ban initially included Ukrainian flags, chants and army songs, however after a public outcry, a court docket ruling overturned these restrictions. The police introduced on Friday that it could not search to problem that call.
However then pro-Russian activists went to court docket and obtained an injunction to permit the show of Russian symbols, together with flags.
The Berlin police stated on Sunday that it could struggle that ruling in a better court docket. For now, each Russian and Ukrainian symbols might be allowed.
The police have stated they are going to have as much as 1,500 officers prepared to reply throughout Victory Day celebrations.
For years, the annual commemorations at Berlin’s main Soviet memorials ranged from somber to boisterous, that includes many Russian and Soviet flags, uniforms and Ribbons. Final yr, amid the restrictions on symbols and songs, the celebrations had been muted.
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