AreaRead the video transcript here
Shoving and scuffle on Tuesday in the Cologne district court.
She is the occasion: Elena Kolbasnikova, a native of Ukraine from Dnipro and a pro-Putin activist. Kolbasnikova has become known in Germany as the organizer of the so-called "pro-Russian motorcades" – and has now had to go to court.
The reason: In May last year, she gave an interview to the television station »Bild TV« on the sidelines of a demonstration. In doing so, she claimed: Russia is not an aggressor, but is helping to end the war in Ukraine. According to the court, it had approved crimes, namely the waging of a war of aggression.
Andrea Fuchs, court spokeswoman
»The court further found that the defendant publicly and intentionally approved this predicate offense through her interview. Finally, it affirmed the suitability of the approving statements for the destruction of public peace. As a result, the court found that this action is also to be regarded as punishable in the light of freedom of expression and Article 5 of the Basic Law. In this respect, it considered a fine of 30 daily rates of €30 each to be appropriate."
A few weeks ago, Kolbasnikova and her supporters had gathered in front of the Cologne district court – to express their view of things on the occasion of the upcoming court date. SPIEGEL TV was there.
Elena Kolbasnikova, pro-Russian activist
»What are you doing, dear government? You are destroying us with your unilateral provocations, politics. Is your goal to destroy us?"
And even now, on the day of the trial, the Putin sympathizer tried to provoke in the courtroom with a Star of David in Russian national colors.
Elena Kolbasnikova, pro-Russian activist
»Unfortunately, Germany finds itself today, in this time, where there was a very sad history back then.«
She is interrupted by a representative of the judiciary.
Meanwhile, Ukraine supporters are protesting outside the district court.
"Fascists have no place in Cologne, you pissers."
Her lawyer is the lawyer and right-wing extremist politician Markus Beisicht. His hope, expressed before the trial, for an acquittal of his client is not fulfilled in the end. But after the verdict, the Putin sympathizer makes it clear that she does not want to admit defeat to the German judiciary.
Elena Kolbasnikova, pro-Russian activist
»We definitely make objections. We don't agree – and as I said, we'll keep going."
To be continued – and possibly not only in the case of Kolbasnikova. In view of the many, albeit comparatively small, pro-Russian demonstrations, motorcades and Soviet nostalgia since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, it should be clear that this was not the last trial of its kind. Putin's mood army is not silent in Germany either.