Day of remembrance: Schröder and Chrupalla at a Russian reception

Individual active and former German politicians attended a reception at the Russian Embassy in Berlin on the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, including former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) and AfD leader Tino Chrupalla.

According to Chrupalla and other participants, Schröder was there with his wife So-yeon Schröder-Kim, but he did not initially respond to inquiries. The “Berliner Zeitung” had previously reported on Tuesday’s reception, which many other German politicians did not attend in protest against the Russian war against Ukraine. Among the other participants was the left-wing politician Klaus Ernst.

Chrupalla: Don’t let the dialogue break off

Chrupalla told the German Press Agency in Berlin on Wednesday: “Yes, I was invited to the reception at the Russian embassy together with Alexander Gauland, like all parliamentary group leaders.” Until recently, May 9 was a day of remembrance “in which German politicians from all parties represented in the Bundestag naturally took part,” explained the AfD politician. “You shouldn’t let this dialogue break off in times of crisis.” Reconciliation is particularly important on such historically significant days. “It was important to me to confidently present the German view of history and the present,” said Chrupalla, who heads the party and the AfD parliamentary group together with Alice Weidel.

Chrupalla said in a Bundestag debate in March: “Ukraine will emerge from this war as a loser, just like Russia. There will only be one winner again, and this winner is the USA.” Union MP Knut Abraham (CDU) accused the AfD faction in February: “You talk about peace, but in Russia you are an integral part of Putin’s propaganda and thus also of the war machine.”