ATHENA, Mar 19A monument to Soviet soldiers who died for the freedom and independence of Greece was desecrated in Athens. Unknown people wrote “Azov” (Nazi battalion) on the monument with yellow paint and drew the symbol of the battalion. The Russian Embassy in Athens condemned the act of vandalism and called on the Greek authorities to find and punish those responsible. «Supporters Ukrainian nationalist battalion «Azov», who for so many years terrorized and killed in cold blood the inhabitants of Eastern Ukraine, raised their hand to the sacred memory in Greece of the Soviet soldiers — those who liberated enslaved Europe from fascism in World War II. We unequivocally condemn this immoral attempt offend history and an unacceptable act of vandalism,» the embassy said in a statement. Vandalized monument to Soviet soldiers in Athens, GreeceVandalized monument to Soviet soldiers in Athens, Greece «After this criminal act and the countless revelations of the Mariupol and Donbass residents, do we need additional evidence of the Nazi nature of Azov and other similar battalions of extremist nationalists in Ukraine?» — the embassy said. The Russian diplomatic mission called on the Greek authorities to do everything necessary to investigate this barbaric attack and punish the vandals. A monument by the famous Russian sculptor Vyacheslav Klykov, depicting a fallen Soviet soldier and mourning his mother, was installed in Athens on Singra Avenue in 2005. The monument is dedicated to Soviet soldiers and officers who escaped from Nazi captivity and fought in the Greek partisan detachments during World War II. Vandalized monument to Soviet soldiers in Athens, GreeceVandalized monument to Soviet soldiers in Athens, GreeceThe coup d'état in Ukraine took place in 2014 during the Greek presidency of the European Union, the then Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos became the first European politician to visit Ukraine and legalize the new regime that came to power after the coup.Greece hosted for the treatment of neo-Nazis and the military, wounded during the so-called anti-terrorist operation against the inhabitants of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics. In Greece, the Ukrainian military was trained in the Special Operations Directorate of the General Staff. The latest release took place in November 2021. After the start of the Russian special operation, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis immediately sent weapons to the Kiev regime. In recent days, there have been more and more threats against Russian and Russian-speaking residents of Greece. Monument to Soviet soldiers desecrated by vandals in Athens, Greece
