The city of Augsburg has banned a pro-Russian motorcade by general decree. As the city administration reported on Tuesday, the demonstration is planned for May 1st in the city area. However, the meeting was not properly registered, it was only advertised on social networks. Neither details about the route of the parade, the time nor a person leading the meeting as a contact person for the police and the city were mentioned in the calls.
“An assembly that is not reported is a violation of the Assembly Act,” said Augsburg’s regulatory officer Frank Pintsch, explaining the ban. “Also in view of the negative examples in other cities, a car parade that is not reported without a recognizable leader of the meeting poses a risk that also includes the risk of criminal offenses.”
Against the background of the war in Ukraine, immigrants of Russian origin and supporters have demonstrated in a number of German cities in recent weeks with such pro-Russian motorcades against alleged discrimination against people from Russia. The authorities had banned participants in the pro-Russian gatherings from supporting Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. These motorcades sometimes led to counter-demonstrations.