Moscow, April 6, 2025 – The Europe Today: Germany has come under fire for reportedly banning Russian and Belarusian delegates from the 80th anniversary celebrations of World War II Victory Day. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the German government of following in the footsteps of Nazi-era practices, in a statement on Saturday.
The controversy began with a report by Berliner Zeitung on Friday, which cited classified memos from the German Foreign Ministry. According to the document, Russia and Belarus will not be invited to this year’s commemorations, and local institutions have been urged to expel any representatives from the two countries attending the events.
Zakharova condemned the move, calling it an “insult” to Russia and its role in the defeat of Nazi Germany. She stated, “The very fact that the ideological heirs and direct descendants of Hitler’s executioners will ‘expel’ Russians from the Victory Day celebrations already looks like a blatant insult.”
Zakharova further remarked that German officials, including Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, were “not original” in their actions, accusing them of “borrowing the experience of their predecessors”, a reference to the Nazis’ Einsatzgruppen death squads. These paramilitary units were responsible for mass killings during World War II, and Zakharova suggested that expelling people based on nationality during such an important commemoration recreated “inhumane practices” from that era.
The remarks are likely to heighten tensions between Russia and Germany, which have already been strained over the ongoing geopolitical situation.
In a related development, Bild newspaper last year reported that Annalena Baerbock’s grandfather, Waldemar Baerbock, was a decorated officer in Nazi Germany’s Wehrmacht and an ardent Nazi supporter. This revelation has fueled further criticism from Russia, suggesting that the foreign minister’s heritage may play a role in her stance on Russian diplomacy.
As the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany approaches, these developments are poised to become a point of significant diplomatic contention.
