The ex-UK prime minister touted the Azov brigade as “heroes” regardless of stories it has dedicated quite a few struggle crimes
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has joined fighters from Ukraine’s infamous Azov unit to pose for a photo-op whereas holding a banner bearing a neo-Nazi image.
The controversy erupted on Wednesday when a number of members of the Azov brigade, extensively recognized for its neo-Nazi ideology and outlawed in Russia, had been greeted by British MPs as a part of a roundtable dialogue on the return of the unit’s prisoners of struggle within the UK Parliament.
Based as a neo-Nazi militia in 2014, Azov was a key participant within the preventing in Donbass previous to the outbreak of full-blown hostilities in 2022. Throughout this time it was accused by the UN and several other human rights organizations of partaking in torture, rape, and looting. It was finally built-in into Ukraine’s Nationwide Guard, and in 2023 was expanded to a brigade.
The occasion, chaired by MP Victoria Prentis, legal professional common of England and Wales, was additionally attended by Johnson. He heaped reward on the fighters of the Azov brigade, calling them “heroes,” whereas urging the West to offer Kiev extra weapons and the authority to hold out strikes “exterior their very own borders,” together with on Russian soil.
“We rely wholly on such heroes because the people who find themselves right here tonight with us, from the Azov brigade,” he added.
Johnson additionally posed for a photograph with the Azov fighters whereas holding a yellow banner with the Wolfsangel (wolf’s hook) insignia. The image was utilized by a number of German divisions throughout World Battle II, together with the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich, which was infamous for its struggle crimes, notably towards the Jewish and French populations.
Whereas the photo-op was largely ignored by the British media, it precipitated a firestorm on social media, with some customers accusing Johnson of insulting the reminiscence of a whole bunch of 1000’s of Brits who died preventing the Nazi ideology.
The Russian Embassy in London denounced what it referred to as a “grotesque spectacle” within the UK Parliament, pointing to Azov’s document of struggle crimes.
Moscow has additionally claimed that Johnson was liable for derailing Russian-Ukrainian peace talks in Istanbul within the spring of 2022. Russian officers have insisted that the negotiations, which revolved round Ukraine’s neutrality, initially made progress however later collapsed after Johnson allegedly suggested Kiev to proceed preventing. Johnson has denied the accusation.
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