"Everyone definitely agrees in one"

The Russian opposition for a second time in six months spent an anti -war march in Berlin. How did the action go and how did the conflict with flags end? Reporting "Novo-Europe"

On March 1, the second mass action of the Russian opposition in Berlin was held in Berlin. The correspondent of Novaya Gazeta Europe Victoria Litvin visited the march and a rally to figure out what motivates the protesters to go out again, whether they believe that at least somehow affect the situation in Russia, and how a column with Russian flags got along next to a group of Russians who are fighting in Ukraine.

The rally began at an hour of the day by Berlin time on Potsdamer Platz - almost in the same place as the previous one. However, this time supporters of different views seemed to be finally divided into three camps: those who support the use of Russian flags, those who prefer an alternative white-blue-white, and those whom this discussion is already tired.

“I want my generation to be able to realize, and not to die for Putin. 16 years old, Yekaterinburg, ”says the inscription on one of the posters with whom the participant of the Inessa rally comes. Activists from the Youth Movement "Vesna" gathered messages from the remaining compatriots in Russia.

- And by what principle did you choose a quote?

- This is the voice of a person from my own city. And I really don't want my neighbors to die.

-Do you think this rally will be able to somehow influence something?

“I really hope yes.” I really hope that at least something will move. I could not come to the last rally, I was pregnant. Here I gave birth, and now I am here, ”says Inessa, and the crowd shifts her from me.

One of the organizers of the column Andrei explains that about twenty quotes were selected for posters. In total, up to fifty messages from Russia were gathered, but many of them were too long and did not fit the format.

Another poster is from Belgorod, which is regularly subjected to shelling. It says: “I want to see Russia of the future with real heroes, not killers. Freedom political prisoner! [Alexey] Navalny , [Boris] Nemtsov , [Alexander] Demidenko - Heroes of Russia. Love, 17 years old. " Demidenko is my acquaintance activist who died in a pre -trial detention center, so I decide to quickly find the author of the poster, which is still in Belgorod.

-I know that it becomes a little easier when you see in your native land, that there is someone [more, who is speaking] against the war and Putin, that you are not alone.

Sometimes I see these signs here in Belgorod: torn posters with an advertisement for a contract under a contract, pacific, flowers on the monument to victims of political repression. Let it be rare, because it is risky, ”Lyuba explains to me. He says that she was not terrible - she trusts “spring” and therefore decided to convey her words in order to also make a small but important contribution.

- Why exactly such a text?

- The words that I wrote often spin in my head when I walk along Belgorod, when I read news about the war, about political prisoners, when I hear missiles when I remember the past, when my parents turn on the TV. “Heroes of Svo” pace in the region, arrange terrifying automobile accidents, rob ordinary people in border villages, taking the latter. They kill people, after all.

And the real heroes [and not the heroes of “Svo”] are such as Demidenko. Only when he was abducted by the Kadyrovites, did I learn about him, about his feat, about hundreds of people whom he saved ( activist helped Ukrainian refugees return to Ukraine from the occupied territories . - Ed. ). I understood what would be for him: in such a system, real heroism is not forgiven. And still, when they torture and kill such a person, even somewhere very close, the earth leaves under the feet. I often remember him, and I really want him not to be forgotten, - love me.

- What do you think about the rally itself?

- I look at the rally positively. Unfortunately, here ( in Belgorod. - Approx. Ed. ) There are practically no [acquaintances] people with an anti -war position. Many who knew went to other cities. So to see at the rally so many people from different parts of the country, openly opposing the war and saying what I myself would like to say is nice. In fact, I myself would like to be there ( in Berlin. - Approx. Ed.) , To have freedom to express my position, to be not lonely in it. There are no flags, people and opinions there, but they all definitely agree in one thing - Russia should be free, happy, peaceful, and this is possible only without Putin - love our correspondence.

The poster with her words at the rally holds one of the activists, and a military man from the “Russian Volunteer Corps” stands very close.

Those who support the Russians fighting on the side of Ukraine came to the action one of the first. Most of them are masked, some in sunglasses and hoods. But even by the eyes you can understand that almost all are very young, they are 20–25 years old. Is there any existing military among them is difficult to say.

This column is one of the most clearly acting. She is led by an older guy, with an open face and in black glasses, but in a jacket. He screams into the loudspeaker. People with the symbols of RDK begin to loudly and legibly repeat the name of the formation and the slogan “Death to the Chekists!”.

I go to the commander - his name is Vladimir with the call sign “Cordinal”, in the RDK he holds the post of political officer. Immediately, the organization’s responsible for the press service of the organization is squeezed out and asks to voice questions in advance. I do not have time to say anything really, as the commander comes up and says that I ask him directly.

- There were statements that the RDK did not advise coming with the Russian flag ...

- Oh, and now I will go with them [who went out with a tricolor] I’ll talk. I generally like to communicate.

- Why do you think that the Russian flag should not be present at this action?

- Because we believe that under this flag people fight for their own shackles, and not for the freedom of the Russians. And they kill other Slavs.

-Then you are for white-blue-white?

- No. We have our own flag. Spike.

- Why did you decide to come to this rally?

- Because we decided that it was time for us to build a dialogue with the opposition and with emigration. You probably missed us without us.

- How do you plan to build a dialogue?

- We will be at all at all.

- What is the row of the column?

- I can count only to three.

- And what, in your opinion, is the purpose of the rally?

- You see, we have our own goals. We understand that it is necessary to combine the fragmented and in decay opposition for a common purpose. If our common goal is the dismantling of the regime, then we must go to it by any means. Our method is power. We respect those who help us with a word, we thank those who help us with business. Well, today we want to show those who make good Russians even better, because weapons always make people better.

- And how do you feel about people who are for a peaceful protest?

- A peaceful protest does not work. Your humble servant was on Mayakovskaya in 2011, was on Bolotnaya, and 80 thousand hipsters could not do anything, although they were two kilometers from the Kremlin. And my brothers and I were able to force Putin to gather the National Security Council and promise us to destroy. Although we captured only a few villages and half of the city in the Bryansk and Belgorod regions.

- Belgorod region?

- Gruvoron.

In the crowd, there are also supporters of armed right formations who are fighting in Ukraine. A woman of about 50, with the flag of the Legion and with a gang -closed face, does not speak Russian - she is from Luxembourg. She emphasizes that it helps the Russian unit, and not the international legion as a whole, because “there are Americans, French”, and “it is important for her to be with those who are from Russia.” She, according to her, has no connections with the Russian Federation. A woman hides her face because of fear for her family, but, despite this, collects donations in support of Ukraine and, in particular, the Legion.

“RDK is a Russian opposition. Deeds, not words, ”is written on the poster of another older woman.

“Well, they are doing something.” Somehow they defend Ukraine. It just hurts me for what is happening in Ukraine. And someone does something at least, really does, and does not say, ”she explains. Her name is Elena, she was born in Russia, has been living in Berlin for 20 years. -This time I decided to support the RDK, because I am tired of the fact that the Russian opposition is cursing a lot, and something of them are not visible.

- What do you think about the conflict about the flags?

-If these people [with a tricolor] went in support of Ukraine, if these people still want to say that they are also part of this struggle with the war, then let them go under this flag. But the most important thing is that they are not on the side of the war.

Another guy with a closed bandana face is spinning nearby. He gives me a leaflet with a call to join the ranks of volunteers. I ask him to comment, he first refuses and offers to talk to the commander. Then he softens his position: he can give a comment, but leaves himself the right not to answer any questions.

- A peaceful protest, unfortunately, showed himself ineffective. He showed that a peaceful protest without any impact on active power, unfortunately, does not affect Putin. Therefore, we need more radical methods to fight the system that is right now in Russia,

- the supporter of the RDK tells me. He claims that he does not serve in the formation now. He hides the personality and seems to be a fan. - We would like to declare ourselves as louder as possible. We would like to show people that we really exist that we are fighting right now. And the fact that people who are right now are here can support Russian volunteer.

Other supporters of the RDK do not want to talk at all. When I ask one of the coming, he silently shows me a hand to the side. Another soldier comes right there and says: “Interview is there, forward [to other columns]. We can’t do it. ”

In anxious proximity to the RDK, a column is built under Russian flags. In the front row there is an activist of Luke Andreev and holds with other protesters a stretch: “For Russia ...”. It is not possible to disassemble the rest of the stretch of stretching - it is obscured by the participants of the promotion, scurrying in front of the column.

- Why did you go out with a tricolor?

- Because this is the flag of my country in which I was born. I want to show that my country is against this war. Because Vladimir Putin is an illegitimate president, and he is not waging a war on our behalf. We are against this war, Russia for peace.

-Do you think there will be riots, conflicts because of tricolors?

- I hope that everything will be fine, I hope that the police, if anything, will work professionally. I hope nothing will happen.

“But are you mentally ready?”

- Well, how would it be.

- Wasn't it scary to go after the threats?

- Well, it’s always scary.

- And what did you have a reaction to threats?

- As soon as this all began, I was, of course, scary. When I was added to the [base] “Peacemaker”, in general, my panic began. But now it’s already calm: what does not kill us makes us stronger. And now I am more or less calm about this.

Nearby, I meet one of the stated organizers of the column - Sergey of the Plant. But it does not go with a tricolor, but with a LGBT flag. He says that in the process of preparing for the action, he abandoned his leadership role.

- It seemed to me that the context had changed. It still seems important to me to leave a tricolor. But the positioning with which we came in was a story for me about the fight against a large and strong evil for my flag. And on the side of the large and strong evil, America suddenly appeared, and now the conflict [about the flags] looks like a fight of two hyenas.

Let's just say that the agreement broke my idea of ​​how to position the column.

Businessman Evgeny Chichvarkin also arrived at the rally. He is dressed in a bright red fur coat, a large black hat on his head, and a small Ukrainian flag is attached to the fur coat. When I get closer, I hear a fragment of a conversation with other journalists.

- You are in this outfit a little like a wizard ...

“I just walk,” Chichvarkin answers in surprise and turns in my direction.

- You used to say that you are distant from the Russian opposition. Why did you come today?

- That made an exception. Well, because when our friends and friends make an investigation against each other , this is such a themselves, empty calories are spent. Inappropriate, application of your strength, effort, brains and knocking down the main idea. The main idea is the overthrow of Putinism and the turn of Russia to Western liberal, better libertarian values. They were a little carried away by the struggle with each other, it is sad, and therefore you need to take a step back and give people [at least] to be a little with each other. And when people want to unite with each other, I am happy to support it.

-And how do you feel about the conflict about the Russian flag and the white-blue-white?

- I am a libertarian, and people have the right to any gestures, any flags, any everything. I believe [the use of the Russian flag on such promotions] unsuccessful, I believe that Ukraine needs to support now, but, again, after [overthrow] of Putinism, everything will need to be done so that people, good people, could be proud of all Russian symbols.

- Do you support the presence of RDK at this rally?

- I, as a libertarian, believe that all the forces that can go to the anti -Putin rally and are not provocateurs [can reach it]. I do not think that they are provocateurs. They [RDK] have a different agenda. Do I like their gesture, these two cotton and hands to the sun? No, I do not like him, but they have the right to this. It can be properly associated as a gesture of a mask . Do we like Elon Musk? Here Elon Musk launches satellites into space, he is a genius. Do we like his gesture? No, I don't like it. It causes us bad associations.

And if people want them to join them, then [they need to understand that] such gestures attract only a very specific part of people. The huge wide mass of the people, which was attracted, for example, Alexei Navalny, such concepts, in my opinion, cannot combine. When everyone walks, with closed faces, in sports clothes, this [causes] absolutely clear associations - and to us, people who want to live in a liberal free country, they are not close. Although I have not heard [from them] nothing that I cannot agree with. Does the Kremlin understand only strength? Fact. Overthrowing the regime with absolutely all hands? Yes.

19-year-old Kevin Lick , a former political prisoner, exchanged in August 2024 passes by.

- Why did you come to the second rally?

-I still arrived to support Ilya, Navalny and Kara-Murza. And give a sign to those people who believe that we are not. In connection with the latest events that took place, I think that it is important to show in the center of Bernin, that we are anti -war Russians here. There are many of us. We are ready to show that we are against the war, against Putin.

- What do you think, how much do we influence our rallies on what is happening in Russia?

- We are more influenced by how officials relate to us, how other people perceive us. We show with our actions that we are anti -war Russians. We should actually go out at least once a month. Alexei Navalny said that we need to go to rallies, as to work. I completely support his words, ”says Kevin.

Columns begin to go. A little girl on her father’s shoulders waving a large British-Ukrainian flag, then distracted and examines the building of the Bundesrat-the upper house of the German parliament. Many protesters came with children and pets.

- The Russian Nazis got out and said: "My God, we are self -confident." And before that, three years, it turns out, are you also self -esteemed? No, you were just ashamed. And now you have lost your shame in three years. That's all, ”the guy with a poster shouts, where the swastika and the Russian flag are drawn.

- Three years ago, on March sixth, after the start of the war, I was with the same flag in Moscow at an anti -war action. And there were the same people with the same tricolors. And there riot police fucked me up and threw me into a car gut. Here we just walk safely, expression perfectly. There they fucked me for this flag. And they threw it on the bus, on which you knew what colors? There was white on top, then a blue strip and below is also white, ”the guy with a tricolor, thrown over his shoulders and with a flagpole in his hands, answers him.

- And then for three years under this flag the Ukrainians were killed.

“They killed a month at that time.”

“No, this is such a battle of urine and shit,” someone’s commentary behind me is heard. It is barely audible, as well as the discussion, because of the loud slogans: “Putin-Huylo”, “Freedom Political Products”, “Russia will be free”, “No war”. And from a column of support for political prisoners, an ambiguous call to join the procession quietly sounds: "Who wants to be political prisoners?"

When the dialogue about Russian flags ends, I go to the enemy of tricolors. His name is Alexei Nikitin.

- Look, three years of the war, and almost all this time no one came to mind with the main symbol of the war and the Russian fascist regime in Europe and shake them before the eyes of the victims of this war. But over time, nationalists-Nazis began to raise their heads and try to play "not everything is so unambiguous."

И я считаю, что использовать национальный флаг России без любых изменений, тем более в Европе, на глазах его жертв — это просто дикое неуважение и поддержка режима.

Потому что эти люди, они против помощи Украине военной, они жалеют «наших мальчиков», и то, что они говорят, что мы за мир, на самом деле призывают к капитуляции Украины. Посмотрите на испанских фашистов, они просто поменяли последнюю полосу в другой цвет. Сирийцы убрали одну звезду, иранцы принесли старый флаг, где другой герб. Никто из них не использует флаг точь-в-точь. Если используешь флаг точь-в-точь, ты, собственно, поддерживаешь этот режим.

— А как насчет аргумента, что нельзя отдавать флаг Путину?

— Ну, можно высказать аналогичный аргумент: немцы-нацисты выиграли Олимпиаду под своим флагом, немцы-нацисты построили дороги и крепкие семьи под своим флагом, у кого-то остались [связанные с ним] хорошие воспоминания. Но сейчас это выглядит так, как будто бы немцы приехали в Израиль, где большинство жертв этого режима, и начали трясти там [нацистским] флагом.

Защищающим российский флаг в той дискуссии оказывается блогер Александр Штефанов.

— А почему ты вышел с российским флагом?

— Это флаг моего государства, моей страны, у моей страны нет другого флага.

— А как ты вообще относишься к бело-сине-белому?

— Мне кажется, что он не станет символом России, он не станет символом демократической оппозиции и даже символом антивоенным. Он, к сожалению, для его авторов даже не стал таким. Он стал очень противоречивым флагом, который мне не близок. Если кто-то его использует, я хуже к ним не отношусь, но это абсолютно не близкое мне дело.

— А бело-лазорево-красный?

— Бело-лазоревый было бы, наверное, интереснее, это был бы неплохой компромисс, но его не найти нигде.

— Как ты отнесся к присутствию РДК?

— Не знаю, я подошел, пообщался. Просто немножко зигуют, но понимаете, в наше время люди зигуют, к сожалению, но что ж поделать. Меня не побили, когда побьют, будем общаться, в травмпункт приедете комментарии брать, там я вам дам веселее комментарии.

У Бранденбургских ворот, где должен закончиться митинг, уже идет какое-то развлекательное мероприятие на немецком. Из-за лучей солнца, которое светит в лицо протестующим, толком не видно, что там происходит. Но видно собравшихся зевак. Толпу куда-то в сторону сметает митинг: ничего не понимающие туристы перемешиваются с активистами, потом отходят в сторону от нашей колонны. Где заканчиваются митингующие и начинаются другие прохожие, понятно не всегда.

Это конечная точка. В окнах американского посольства отражаются плакаты против войны, Путина, репрессий и за всё хорошее против всего плохого.

Илья Яшин, Владимир Кара-Мурза и Юлия Навальная выходят на сцену. Яшин начинает: «Тяжелое ощущение сегодня, согласитесь. Наверное, все смотрели вчера это паскудство, котороепроисходило в Овальном кабинете». Кара-Мурза продолжает: «Сегодня мы здесь, чтобы вспомнить эти три черные страшные февральские даты ( годовщины убийств Навального и Немцова, а также третья годовщина начала полномасштабной войны. — Прим. ред. ). И за всеми этими преступлениями стоит человек, называющий себя президентом России, — Владимир Путин».

Последней выступает Юлия Навальная. “Hard time. Not a hard one day, not a difficult week, not a difficult month. Severe years. I know that someone is disappointed. Someone starts a new life. Всем тяжело», — говорит вдова политика и благодарит тех, кто выходит на улицы.

«Мы должны бороться против этого режима не только здесь, не только сами, но и по всему миру — за тех, кто не может, за тех, кого убили, за тех, кто сейчас в России и кого посадят в тюрьму, если они выйдут. Мы должны быть все вместе», — выступает Навальная.

Позади нее летят большие мыльные пузыри от развлекательного шоу, которое потеснила колонна. После акции вновь включают музыку — играет песня Монеточки «Переживу».

Митинг заканчивается прямо около станции метро «Бранденбургские ворота», одной из крупнейших развязок. С каждым поворотом на нужную ветку русскоязычная речь слышна всё меньше. В поезде ее уже совсем не поймать — объявления о следующих маршрутах, громкий смех пассажиров и непринужденные разговоры на немецком выходят на первый план.