Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergej Netschajew Monday criticized Germany's exclusion of Russian and Belarusian envoys from commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, describing it as an unfriendly move.
The German foreign ministry had previously sent out guidance to local, state and federal bodies to keep Russian and Belarusian representatives off their guest lists for official ceremonies marking the war's end.
Germany also said the ambassadors of Russia and Belarus will not be invited to the German parliament's May 8 commemorative event in the Bundestag lower house.
"This is definitely extremely regrettable, because in our view this is not friendly. In recent years, events have been held to celebrate the Liberation Day in some Western capitals without the participation of liberators. This is very strange," he said.
The ambassador accused Germany of dishonoring wartime history, saying Russia's historical role in the defeat of Nazi Germany should not be covered up.
"It is a crystal clear fact that the Soviet people and the Soviet army played a decisive role in defeating Nazi Germany. We will not forget this fact, nor will we allow it to be forgotten. We strongly condemn any attempt to cover up this historical fact," he said.
The Russian Embassy in Germany will still hold memorial services at some war cemeteries or memorials open to the public in Germany to commemorate those who died in World War II, said the ambassador.
May 8, 1945 is a day when the Second World War allies formally accepted an unconditional surrender by the armed forces of Germany after six years of the bloodiest conflict in human history.
Russian ambassador slams Germany's exclusion of Russia from WWII anniversary events
