"Understanding" are repaired

How the public opinion of Germany is changing in relation to Russia and its president

The term “Putin-farstera” comes from the German word “ferreten”, which means “understand”. It is strange that, as a rule, people who do not speak Russian, and therefore do not have the opportunity to get a complete picture of what is happening in Russia, fall into this category.

Now, after the start of the Russian “special operation” against Ukraine, the number of such “Putin-farstera” among politicians and public figures is rapidly declining, while on the Internet it remains high; Frank campaigns are observed against criticism of the Kremlin, behind which you can recognize the actions of the trolls.

Two German parties, which have so far been especially actively supported by Vladimir Putin, have currently been distanced from him: the right “alternative to Germany” and “left”, a successor to the socialist unified party of the GDR.

“There is no justification for Russia's attack on Ukraine. Russia must immediately stop hostilities and withdraw its troops from Ukraine, ”the two leaders of the Alternative Party Tino Krupalla and Alisa Vaidel said in a joint statement. The former party leader Alexander Gauland, once permanent supporter of Putin, spoke almost the same: “Vladimir Putin’s violation is not justified by anything,” Gauland said to the weekly Yunga Fryaite. Despite all the understanding of the interests of Russia's security, Putin’s actions are unacceptable, the former head of the Adg emphasized.

At the same time, the former supporters of Putin soften their criticism by indicating the mistakes of America and imaginary aggressiveness by NATO.

Even in the extreme left political wing, whose representatives always supported Putin, completely new tones sound.

The leader of the Left Party Gregor Gizi, whom many consider to be a man of Moscow in Berlin and who had close ties with the secret services of the GDR and the Soviet Union, informs the ZDF television channel, which condemns the invasion without any “but” and “if”. “This is a criminal aggressive (...) [a word prohibited by the authorities] and nothing more, and it can and should be condemned - and in the most decisive way,” he says. - And for the Left Party, which has always been and is a party supporting the world, there is no other possible position ... "

His party comrade Sarah Wagenknecht, also known to Putin-Fershteer, even stated that Putin should appear before the UN International Court in The Hague. “Without a doubt, (...) [a word prohibited by the authorities] is a crime,” she added, expressing a sharp criticism of NATO: “It should be emphasized here that the USA - initiators of the wars of recent years, including war in Iraq - are also military criminals.”

It is such that the current strategy of most “Putin-farsterae” is:

They hastily and violently distance themselves from Putin, saying that they were wrong at his expense, but at the same time always indicate the general responsibility of the West.

The distance of the former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, a close friend of Putin, was not quite convincing. He called on the Kremlin boss to stop the offensive. But, despite numerous requests, he refused to leave his posts in Gazprom and Rosneft. A wave of indignation rose against him. The employees of his office in the Bundestag, which he continues to finance at the expense of taxpayers as a former chancellor, all as one quit his job in protest. The Borussia Dortmund football club, whose honorary chairman is Schroeder, threatens to deprive him of honorary membership.

Anyone who continues to support Putin in Germany is threatened with social ostracism today. The “German-Russian forum”, which was previously considered a lobbying organization of the Kremlin, hastily distanceed: “The attack of Russian troops on Ukraine is a serious violation of international law. Nothing can justify the use of military force against Ukraine. ”

The forum, “which always advocated the peaceful coexistence of peoples and civil societies in the context of peace and freedom, declares its solidarity with the people of Ukraine and everyone who suffers from the intolerable and catastrophic solution of Russia. We urge the President of Russia to stop military operations. ”

Former Prime Minister of the Earth Brandenburg and the leader of the SDPG Matthias Platzeck, one of the key supporters of Putin in Germany, resigned from the post of chairman of the board of the forum on Tuesday. “I do not think (...) [a word prohibited by the authorities] in Ukraine is possible,” wrote Platzek in his statement of resignation. The SDPG politician told the Moz that in recent days there were sharp public attacks on him personally, as well as his family. He said that he wanted to get out of public crossfire, realizing that sooner or later new contacts with Russia would be required.

Platzeck was shocked by the beginning of hostilities. “Russian President Vladimir Putin violated all the rules of peaceful coexistence,” said Platzek in an interview with RBB. - This is a tragedy that still leaves me stunned. I would not have thought it was possible. ”

Today in Germany, any proximity to Vladimir Putin is considered unacceptable. Over the past week, moods have changed dramatically in this regard.

Boris Wright Shuster - especially for "New"