Russian Embassy: Night Wolves motorcycle ride not provocative

The Russian Embassy to Slovakia rejects claims that the ride of Russian motorcycle club the Night Wolves from Moscow via Bratislava to Berlin is a provocation. Embassy Secretary for Cultural Affairs Sergey Cherkalin underlined that the event represents the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII, TASR learnt on Tuesday. "This is no provocation. They want to visit sites where fighting took place and pay their respects to fallen soldiers. On May 2, they also plan to come to Bratislava to lay wreaths at Slavin Memorial. They'll come from the Czech Republic, lay wreathes and then continue to Vienna, where further events are planned", Cherkalin said at a press conference. Embassy press attaché Alexey Kulagin noted that the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII is not only a holiday for Russia but, first and foremost, the "commemoration of the fallen for the victory and an expression of respect to all veterans regardless of their nationality or religious beliefs". Lessons learned from WWII are more relevant now than ever, when the foundations of civilisation are endangered by "international terrorism and such movements as Nazism, Neo-Nazism and what appears to be fascism that, unfortunately, has resurfaced in some states again", added Kulagin. "We are genuinely glad that Russia and Slovakia have no discrepancies in their perception of the events of that era and that we share one truth about WWII. Our most important task today is to protect this historical truth, if we want to ensure a peaceful and dignified future for next generations. We're grateful to the Slovak nation for honouring the memory of Red Army soldiers - liberators. This relation is fully demonstrated in the dignified care given to military graves of Soviet soldiers on the soil of Slovakia, where more than 63,000 fell... We value Slovakia as our traditional and important partner", said Kulagin.