Russia’s ambassador to Germany, Sergey Nechayev, plans to attend another World War II commemoration, this time in the eastern German city of Torgau, where US and Soviet troops famously met on the Elbe river on April 25, 1945.
A Russian embassy spokesman told dpa that Nechayev would accept the city’s invitation and take part in Friday’s events.
Torgau officials said they had not issued formal invitations but had informed several embassies in February. Moscow also asked for speaking time, which the city declined, saying it did not wish to “provide a platform.”
Last week, Nechayev appeared at a memorial on the Seelow Heights east of Berlin, where the largest battle of World War II on German territory took place.
The event sparked controversy after Germany’s Foreign Office issued a handout advising against inviting Russian representatives to commemorations by the federal, state and local governments.
The office fears Russia could use such occasions to justify its war against Ukraine.
The German parliament has decided to exclude Russia and Belarus from the main commemorative event marking the end of World War II in Berlin on May 8.
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