Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared via video conference during a Greek Parliament seating on Thursday 8 April calling on Athens to put pressure on the EU to adopt stricter sanctions against Moscow.
As part of his address Mr Zelenskyy included a broadcast to Greek lawmakers by Greek Ukrainian members fighting against Russia, however, the message of unity the Ukrainian president was trying to convey was overshadowed by the connection of the Mariupol soldiers speaking with far-right militia group, the Azov Battalion.
Lawmakers from New Democracy, SYRIZA, KINAL/PASOK and Diem25 (Yiannis Varoufakis’s leftist party) participated while populist party Greek Solution chose to abstain.
More specifically, a member of the Azov Battalion addressing Greek lawmakers after Mr Zelenskyy’s speech has sparked many reactions on social media.
“I have been waking up every day for more than a month thinking about Mariupol, which is being destroyed by Russian troops,” Mr Zelenskyy said, stressing that “There are still 100,000 people on the border with Mariupol. There is no building left. Mariupol has been destroyed. Ukraine is one of the Orthodox countries that was Christianised by the Greeks. In Ukrainian culture and history it will be seen that we will lose a big part of history if we lose the culture brought by Greek culture”.
“Freedom or Death was what your revolutionaries were saying. We are shouting the same today,” the Ukrainian president said, referring to the Greek Revolution of 1821 urging Greeks to pressure the EU to impose more sanctions on Russia.
“We must close the door on Russian banks. No Russian ship should approach European ports. No acceptance on Russian tankers. With the money Russia earns, it destroys our cities.” Mr Zelenskyy also highlighted his country’s need for weapons, anti-aircraft equipment and armour.
Up to that point there was unison between the Greek lawmakers in expressing their support for Ukraine, however, Michail’s (Azov Battalion soldier) video message to parliament caused uncomfortable reactions.
“I was born in Mariupol, and I take part in the defence of the city from the Russian Nazis,” Michail said.
“I will not talk about the difficulties we have in defence, participating through the Azov Battalion. This is my debt to my city, my debt as a man and I must talk about the catastrophic conditions in which the Greek Mariupol is experiencing.”
The mention of Azov Battalion sparked an intense reaction by former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras who said: “The speech of members of the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion in the Greek Parliament is a provocation. The absolute responsibility lies with the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He talked about a historic day, but it is a historic shame. The solidarity with the Ukrainian people is a given. But the Nazis cannot have a say in Parliament.”
On a similar note, former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras called the broadcast a “big mistake” by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
“The Greek government irresponsibly undermined the struggle of the Ukrainian people, by giving the floor to a Nazi. The responsibilities are heavy. The government should publish a detailed report of preparation and contacts for the event,” stated former foreign affairs minister Nikos Kotzias.
In a joint statement Greece’s socialist and leftist party leaders demanded an explanation on why Greek lawmakers had not been informed about the video intervention of an Azov Battalion member and called on the president of the Greek Parliament to assume responsibility.
Following the incidents and the reactions Mr Mitsotakis issued a statement saying “Europe is called upon to immediately put out the fire of war that ignited in its heart the Russian regime. The heinous crimes that were committed should be punished”.
Lastly, government spokesperson Giannis Oikonomou agreed that the Azov Battalion message was “incorrect and inappropriate”, however, there was no apology or explanation regarding the vetting of the video and whether or not government officials were aware of its content.