Ukrainian flag and “Putin is a murderer” in Prague

26 February, 02:04 World 4005 0

25 February 2015 The Russian Embassy in Prague has been adorned with a Ukrainian flag and a banner reading “Putin is a murderer”.

Today at 1 p.m. the oMEN group installed a Ukrainian flag and banners saying “Putin is an intruder, incarcerator and murderer” on the fence of the Russian Embassy in Prague.

Demonstrators also chained themselves to the fence in order to prevent easy removal of the banners. They have painted slogans over their bodies, including “Minsk Stinks”, “Not another Munich” or “Arms for Ukraine”. “Putin cannot be trusted and above all we must finally stop yielding to him. He has disregarded all previous agreements and will do the same again,” the protest’s organisers explain.

They point out that few had believed that eastern Ukraine could be next following the annexation of Crimea yet it is where the Russian army currently operates.

“Europe is at war only we have so far failed to realise it. We need to wake up quickly and help Ukraine in every way possible,” the demonstrators add. The protest has been organised by oMEN, a group that has previously staged protests at the Cabinet Office building and Prague Castle objecting to the stance adopted by the Czech Republic to sanctions imposed on Russia.

Members of the group include physicians, scientists, a historian, translator and a number of students. “Yes, we have encroached on the property of the Russian Embassy,” the demonstrators admit, “but we do not intend to stage a polite protest. We are certainly not going to pretend being blind like some Czech and European politicians do,” they add.

“Russia is waging a war on Ukraine and Vladimir Putin is the main contriver of that war.” “We are convinced that as Europeans we should provide arms to Ukraine. Not to get more people killed but to enable Ukraine to defend herself and to manifest clearly to Russia that we are not afraid but instead ready to respond to Russian aggression,” the demonstrators explain.

“It is just as necessary to toughen up the economic sanctions imposed on Russia while supporting Ukraine economically. Economic pressure remains the key to pressuring Russia to begin acting in a civilised manner,” they add. The demonstrators also handed a letter to the Russian Ambassador Sergei Kiselev.