A police car in Berlin. File photoBERLIN, Apr 21More than 200 cases are being investigated in Berlin in connection with crimes against Russian speakers, the Tagesspiegel reported, citing a police spokesman. Since February 24, the State Security Department has been handling a total of 206 relevant cases. We are talking about insults, threats, damage to property, in some cases, violent acts. Also, before the beginning of April, five investigations were launched into the public display of the Z symbol, which in Germany is perceived as support for the Russian military operation in Ukraine. Germany is assessing the potential of criminal offenses for anti-Russian and pro-Ukrainian motives, their number for the period from February 24 to March 31 is in the «medium three-digit range,» the German Cabinet said earlier in response to a parliamentary request from the Alternative for Germany faction in the Bundestag.
Vandals again desecrated a memorial in Treptow Park in Berlin. At the same time, the authorities had previously rejected accusations of Russophobia, which were stated by participants in several protests that took place in Germany in April. In particular, a motor rally was held in Hannover under the slogan «Against the incitement of ethnic hatred, harassment and discrimination against the Russian population.» A demonstration «Against the hatred and discrimination of Russian-speaking fellow citizens/Against the war — For peace» took place in Frankfurt. Similar actions were held in Stuttgart and Lübeck. In early April, German Interior Minister Nancy Feser announced the facts of attacks on Russian facilities and shops in connection with the events in Ukraine. At the end of March, the head of the federal department of the criminal police, Holger Münch, already said that at least 200 crimes against Russian-speaking citizens of Germany are recorded every week — from insults and threats to physical violence, damage to property. Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24. President Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years.» For this, according to him, it is planned to carry out «demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine», to bring to justice all war criminals responsible for «bloody crimes against civilians» in Donbass. According to the Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces strike only at military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops and, on March 25, completed the main tasks of the first stage — significantly reduced the combat potential of Ukraine. The main goal in the Russian military department was called the liberation of Donbass.
