GERMANY-BANDERA GRAVE Grave of Ukrainian nationalist Stepan Bandera vandalised

Record ID: 565526

  • Title: GERMANY-BANDERA GRAVE Grave of Ukrainian nationalist Stepan Bandera vandalised
  • Date: 17th August 2014
  • Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (AUGUST 17, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF WALDFRIEDHOF CEMETERY VARIOUS OF STEPAN BANDERA'S VANDALISED GRAVE TOMBSTONE ON GROUND FLOWERS FLOWERS NEAR TO THE TOMBSTONE MAP SHOWING THE LAYOUT OF THE CEMETERY CEMETERY MAP / PATH IN THE CEMETERY
  • Embargoed: 1st September 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA1R4DYM4KZADMXRUTPOF1RJNCD
  • Story Text: The grave of Stepan Bandera, a leader of Ukrainian national forces which fought both the Nazis and Soviet forces during World War Two and after, was vandalised in a Munich cemetery during the night between Saturday and Sunday (August 16-17).
    A marble cross, which was about 1.80 metres high, was pushed off its foundation and flowers were uprooted in the Waldfriedhof cemetery.
    Bandera, who fought Soviet rule well into the 1950s and was assassinated by a KGB agent in 1959 at the age of 50, is regarded as a hero by many in western Ukraine where wariness of Moscow is strong.
    Most people living in the Russian-speaking east of the country, however, adopt the Soviet view that he was a terrorist.
    Some historians say Bandera's nationalist followers initially cooperated with Nazi invaders of western Ukraine, then part of Poland, and took part in the killings of Jews and Poles.
    According to German media, Munich police say they currently have no evidence leading to a politically motivated crime.
    The vandalised grave was discovered on the same day German, Russian, Ukrainian and French foreign ministers met in Berlin to discuss the current situation in Ukraine.
    The foreign ministers' talks were focussing on how to achieve a ceasefire and prevent weapons and fighters crossing into eastern Ukraine.
    Russia denies helping the rebels and accuses Kiev, backed by the West, of triggering a humanitarian crisis through indiscriminate use of force against Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine who reject the Ukrainian government's rule.

  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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