Thousands of protesters take to the streets carrying Russian flags or banners with the letters NATO, the trans-Atlantic military alliance, crossed out with a red line.
Germany is home to some 3 million people of Russian ethnic background. Though Germany's Russian diaspora is vast, there have been relatively few pro-Putin rallies since the start of the war.
(AP)
Some 2,000 mostly
Russian-speaking protesters have marched in the western city of
Cologne to demand Germany stop supporting Ukraine and
drop sanctions it imposed after Moscow attacked its neighbour
earlier this year.
Sunday's rally, organised by Russian-speaking diaspora groups in
the city, was met by a few dozen counter-protesters who had also
gathered in Cologne to
express support for Ukraine.
"Germany is in chaos," said Elena Kolbasnikova, an
organiser, repeating President Vladimir Putin’s assertion that
Russia's military operation protects Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine.
"How will we survive this winter?"
Germany is home to some 3 million people of Russian ethnic background. Though its Russian diaspora is vast, there have been relatively few pro-Putin rallies since the start of the war.
READ MORE: Energy price hikes could ignite 'civil unrest' across Europe this winterCollection donations for Russia
Many of Sunday's protesters held Russian flags or banners with the letters NATO, the trans-Atlantic military alliance, crossed out with a red line.
Footage from the scene showed police detaining at least one protester.
Organisers collected donations for Russian-backed separatist
forces in eastern Ukraine's Donbass region.
One German speaker, a baker, said high gas prices would
leave him without a job by the end of the year, blaming Germany
for refusing to open the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
Earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was confident
Germany had sufficient gas to get through the winter. Russian media have disputed this, saying western
Europe will freeze this winter without Russian gas.
READ MORE: Far-right Serbians hold pro-Russia rally amid Ukraine crisis
Source: Reuters
