Night wolves in Prague: Opponents were waiting for the controversial biker

Bikers from the Night Wolves MC Europe group, a branch of the Russian motorcycle club Night Wolves, which has ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, arrived in Prague shortly before one o’clock on Monday to honor the memory of fallen soldiers during the Second World War at the Olšan Cemetery during the annual Victory Road. In front of the gate of the Olšan Cemetery, several dozen people were waiting for the bikers, who had come to protest against their leaning towards Russia. They greeted the convoy with the inscription: “Welcome the delegates of the Russian terrorist federation”.

“The Night Wolves support Putin, they support aggression in Ukraine, as well as the occupation of Donbass. I think that it is necessary not to abuse the memory of fallen soldiers in order to present today’s Russia. I came here today with the European flag, because we belong to Europe. Although the Soviet Union liberated Czechoslovakia, it immediately began to occupy it, and the Soviet Union was the only power which had territorial gains from World War II. Stalin and Hitler had the same goal, to gain territory and slaves, which Stalin succeeded because he won, and that is what Night Wolves presents here. I expect that there will be some exchange of views, but I believe that it will be moderate and without any conflict,” MP for STAN Martin Exner told Blesk on the spot. The protest event was organized by the Kaputin group. In addition to the banner, they brought the flags of the European Union, NATO, the United States or Ukraine. Night Wolves supporters were booed and chanted “Putin is a murderer”. The event was supervised by the police, including the anti-conflict team, but the event passed without clashes.

The motorcyclists at the Olšan Cemetery first knelt at the monument to the Czechoslovak soldiers and then laid wreaths at the monument to the fallen Red Army soldiers. When they arrived at the cemetery, they heard whistles, taunts and curses. They returned several of them themselves. At the monument to the fallen Red Army soldiers, several short speeches were made, the speakers led by deputy Jaroslav Foldyna (SPD) thanked the soldiers who fought against the Nazis in their speeches.

Night Wolves

Every year, the Noční vlci motorcycle club organizes rides through European countries, including the Czech Republic, on the occasion of the anniversary of the end of the Second World War. However, their actions arouse anger among the authorities, as the association is often described as extremely nationalist. In addition, the head of the Night Wolves, Alexander Zaldostanov, is on the US and EU sanctions list for supporting the Russian annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea.

On Wednesday, May 8, the Czech Republic, like most European countries, celebrates Victory Day as a reminder of the end of the Second World War in Europe. Most of the Czechoslovak territory was liberated from the Nazi occupation by the Red Army, the western part of the country by American troops. Around 150,000 Soviet soldiers died during the liberation of Czechoslovakia. 429 of them are buried in the Olšan Cemetery.