Support The Moscow Times!

Poland Protests Russian Bikers' Plans for Patriotic Road Trip

Leader of the motorcycling club Night Wolves Alexander Zaldostanov, who also goes by the nickname "Khirurg" (Surgeon), arrives at a news conference in Moscow Apr. 15.

WARSAW — Poland's prime minister spoke out Wednesday against plans by a Russian motorcycle club to ride through Poland on a journey to Berlin to mark the 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.

The Night Wolves, a nationalistic group loyal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, plan to retrace the westward path that Red Army soldiers took across eastern Europe as they fought Nazi troops.

Many Poles consider the ride a hostile act, and Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz called the bikers' plans a "provocation." She put the bikers on notice that Polish law would be applied if they disrupted security and public order.

The plans have been widely discussed in Polish media, and thousands of Poles joined a Facebook appeal calling for the bikers not to be allowed into the country. They need visas to enter the European Union, which includes Germany and Poland.

In Germany, Interior Ministry spokesman Tobias Plate said the government was aware of the planned tour and "the responsible authorities will watch it very closely." German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Sawsan Chebli said no such group has asked for a visa.

EU ties with Russia have soured recently over Moscow's role in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Putin has ridden with the bikers, and they have shown support for Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. They oppose the Ukrainian government, while Poland supports Kiev and its push for closer ties with the European Union.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more