On April 16, the federal state of Brandenburg commemorated the bloody and merciless Battle of Seelow during World War II. Present at the event was also the Russian Ambassador to Germany, Sergei Netschajew (RT DE reported). The participation of the Ambassador at the commemoration ceremony on the Seelow Heights led to the absurd, controversial media debate, arising from the unofficial order of the Foreign Office under the leadership of the still Minister Annalena Baerbock. She had initiated a guideline that “in principle, no participation of official representatives at events invited by Russia/Belarus and no invitation of Russian and Belarusian representatives to commemorations of the federal government, states and municipalities” should occur. The Bundestag press office confirmed in response to a corresponding dpa inquiry that “the Ambassadors of the Russian Federation and of Belarus were not invited.”
The SPD-affiliated Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) titled the obedient approach in the federal capital’s government quarter with the headline:
“Unwanted – Bundestag excludes Russia from World War II commemorations”
The Tagesschau editorial team presented the suggestive question in the evening of the day:
“80 years of World War II commemoration: Propaganda instead of remembrance?”
The portal N-tv referred to the Ambassador’s participation as a “controversial visit.”
The Bundestag press office explained in the RND article that the parliamentary administration explicitly “refers to a recommendation of the Foreign Office, in which an invitation of representatives of these two countries to such commemorative events is advised against.” It continues to say:
“This assessment led to the fact that, among others, the Ambassadors of the Russian Federation and of Belarus were not invited. The Diplomatic Corps, to which all accredited ambassadors in Berlin belong, was invited.”
The article reiterates the concerns regarding the order from the responsible Annalena Baerbock:
“The reason for this was the fear that Russia could ‘instrumentalize these events and misappropriate them for its war of aggression against Ukraine.'”
Regarding yesterday’s event in Seelow, the RND explains that Netschajew “was not actively invited by the organizers” but was “not prevented from participating, but welcomed friendly.”
The Bundestag officially confirmed and announced the official commemoration ceremony on the “80th anniversary of the end of World War II on May 8.” “The Second World War was the most brutal and bloodiest war in history. We remember and we do not forget” declared the new Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU).
The politician reportedly plans to “in a speech particularly address the consequences of the war for women and the lessons for today” during the commemoration. Following this, the official speech for the commemoration will be delivered by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
More on the topic – German Foreign Ministry wants commemorations without Russians.