Ukraine’s Embassy in Greece Condemns Pro-Russia Rally in Athens

Ukraine’s Embassy in Greece condemned a pro-Russia rally that took place in Athens on Sunday saying that holding such an event while Russian troops and mercenaries destroy Ukrainian cities and kill Ukrainian people is “plain unacceptable.”

Hundreds of demonstrators many of them waving Greek and Russian flags and honking their horns staged a motorcade in solidarity with Russia in the center of Athens.

The demonstrators drove by Syntagma Square which was at the time hosting a pro-Ukraine rally.

Some of the vehicles were spotted emblazoned with the infamous “Z” symbol which is seen as symbolizing support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. The logo was first spotted on the side of Russian tanks and military vehicles amassing on the border with Ukraine.

The protest took place as Ukraine accused Russian forces of carrying out a “massacre” in the town of Bucha, northwest of the capital Kyiv, while Western nations reacted to images of dead bodies there with calls for new sanctions against Moscow.

“We are deeply concerned about convening the so-called motor rally” against Russophobia and racism,” the Ukrainian Embassy said in a statement.

“Since February 24, 2022, in the name of the whole progressive world, Ukraine has been fighting against the barbaric state whose propaganda methods are known far beyond its borders. It is not coincidental that a number of European countries, including Greece, have decided to shut down the Russian TV channels as a source of fake or distorted information,” it adds.

It notes that similar motorcades that took place in Germany “turned into a demonstration of devotion to the ‘Russian world’ and support for Putin’s policies.

“In our understanding, holding such an event, while Russian troops and mercenaries continue to destroy Ukrainian cities and kill Ukrainian people, is plain unacceptable,” the statement by the Ukrainian embassy reads.