It was very little that, according to independent sources, just a few hundred people congregated on May 11 on the Paseo del Prado in Madrid to commemorate the Victory Dayholiday converted in recent years in Russiafrom the Annexation of Crimea and the beginning of the confrontation with the West, in an act of loyalty to the Vladimir Putin regime. The Russian government press in Moscow celebrated in style that the Spanish capital welcomed the “most numerous” action of the so -called ‘immortal regiment’ in EU territory, the Russian parade carrying portraits of its fallen ancestors during the Second World War. “As the organizers of the action explained, about 3,000 people went to the rally, and the action became the most numerous in Europe,” the Tass agency said enthusiastically.
This ‘inflated’ of figures in the media of Russia and also described by the Russian opposition to Putin in Spain is not free, Alekséi Nesterenko, president of the free Russians, the main organization in Spain of citizens of that country contrary to the Kremlin comes to say. It is about showing muscle to the Moscow authorities to achieve revenues from “budget“In future acts.” It is an example of how Russian propaganda lies, “Nesterenko said. For his part, Victoria Samoilova, organizer of the act, has insisted on his social networks that that figure was reached, but has declined to speak with the newspaper.” We have recommended that it does not grant interviews to NATO media“, says Iñaki Aguirre, which is presented as its” legal advisor in Spain. “
Concentration of the immortal regiment in Madrid on May 11 passed / Left calos
In general, the Madrid march passed in peace, although with some incidents between the Spanish police and Russians who tried to express their opposition to war. The participants paraded to the sound Songs of the contest but used here for propaganda purposeslike ‘sbiahennaya vainá’ (the sacred war), carrying many of them, not only portraits of their relatives fallen in the world contest, but also of the Stalin dictatorresponsible for the death of millions of Soviets in political purges and self -trusted famine, in addition to the Kremlin’s own leader, Vladimir Putinwho more than three years ago ordered the beginning of the invasion of the neighboring state. Soviet flags, San Jorge tapesan orange and black bicolor emblem inheritance of the It was Tsarist and converted, in the eyes of the Ukrainians, in symbol of the occupation of their country, in addition to the banners of the self -proclaimed popular republics of the Donbasthey completed an act clearly destined to glorify the performance of an army, the Russian, on which very accusations of war crimes fall.
Mediated the march, a Russian opponent positioned in a margin that showed a banner contrary to the war and Putin was arrested by Spanish agentswho also snatched pacifist posters from two other opposition militants who had placed themselves as the protesters. “They told me that they wanted to avoid problems with the security service,” explains a face -to -face witness who inquired about the agents.
Moment of the year
The so -called parade Immortal Regiment on the occasion of Victory Day constitutes The organizer Samoilova The climax moment of the year, in which he carries out infinity of initiatives to ensure that Russians residing in Spain remain loyal to Kremlin in these critical moments in their history. The war was a true earthquake for the Russian community in Spain, dividing between those who supported it and those who rejected it. And some members of this last group, such as Sophia LadaniKexprofesora in the ‘Voskresnayaya Shkola’ (Sunday school, child catechesis after the Mass) of the Orthodox Cathedral of Santa María Magdalena in Madrid, they argue that in the Telegram channels run by Samoilova large doses of propaganda, full of false news and aimed at leading leaders and political systems in the West, repeating the communicative strategies used in their country by propagandists related to the Kremlin.
“I remember that on one occasion, in a post, he said that the Fame husband of Isabel II era pedophile; On other occasions he assured that in Spain there was Russophobia, although, he remembers, he never showed evidence; He also said that the Spaniards, in general, did not support Zelenski, which is not true: yes, he was very careful not to insult the Spaniards, “says the pedagogue.
Capture of the world of world channel offering money for participating in a putinist act. / Redacción
One of the concerns of the opponents who closely observe the activities in Spain of their countrymen who support Putin is that the strategies that uses Kremlin at home to shake your popularity, socially very corrosive, among which is the Payment of monetary sums to protesters for participating in events. Although activists lack evidence to ensure that this pattern is followed in the marches of the immortal regiment, it is true that in other events organized by Putin supporters in our country it has happened. Without going any further, last October, the World Patriots convened in Barcelona to an exhibition against Ukraine and its president, Volodimir Zelenski, and offered “30 euros as thanks to those who can join the event.”
Carmen Claudínassociated senior researcher at Cidob, recalls that the war against Nazi Germany is “the only episode” of recent history that “cohesion to the Russians”, because everyone then lost an acquaintance. With this premises, he continues, it has been “very easy“For Putin to build, from the immortal regiment, an ideology based” in the Exceptionalism and the Victimism“. And although it is not pronounced on the convenience of prohibiting them, he asks to investigate the activities of his instigators. For his part, the opposition leader Nesterenko demands public authorities in Spain to adopt” measures “, or else” the influence of the Kremlin will bring destabilization. “
Growing limitations to an act of extolling the Putin regime
The popular marches on the occasion of Victory Day experience limitations in numerous countries of the world, given their propaganda and militaristic exaltation, at a time when Russia has occupied part of Ukraine. As expected, in the Baltic countries And in your own Ukrainethe acts have been completely prohibited, while in Berlinin whose eastern sector monuments of the Soviet era are still standing, is prohibited on May 8 and 9 exhibiting in its vicinity Russian symbols, including the country’s flag, the ribbons of St. Jorge, military uniforms and even the letter Z, which identifies the Russian army. The placement of flowers in the monument is also vetoed.
In USA, United Kingdom e Ireland These acts are prohibited, either since 2015, after the annexation of Crimea, either since 2022, after the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. For their part, the former Soviet refuels of Asiadependent on Moscow but fearful of Russian expansionism, they have changed their name or have postponed their celebration.
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