Russia Slams Polish President's Remarks on Victory Day Parade in Moscow

Russian officials have criticized the Polish president for calling the Victory Day parade in Moscow a "demonstration of force" and reminded Komorowski that it was the Soviet Union that had liberated the country from Nazism.

Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said on Sunday that the upcoming Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9 is a "demonstration of force" and an example of an "unstable world." According to him, the Red Square once again will become a "tank square."

First deputy head of the International Committee of the lower chamber of the Russian parliament Leonid Kalashnikov said that Russian tanks had liberated Poland during World War II when commenting on Komorowski's remarks.

"If not for the tanks mentioned by the president of Poland, Poland would not exist now on the world map. I must remind you that, according to the Nazi plans, Poland was supposed to be a territory that Germany was preparing for the resettlement of the German population. Others were supposed to be expelled and destroyed. And only due to Russian tanks they [Poland] gained their freedom and sovereignty."

Ten years ago and even last year Poland did not treat Russian parades this way because "a parade is not saber-rattling, it is a reminder that, unfortunately, violence still exists in the world and armed forces protect a country from that violence," Kalashnikov told RIA Novosti.

By making such a statement, Polish authorities reaffirm their commitment to hostile rhetoric toward Russia, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation Andrei Klishas said.

According to Klishas, Komorowski should not forget that it was the Soviet Army that had liberated Poland from Nazis. "But, apparently, this fact does not fit into the story of a 'free Europe', part of which Poland considers itself."

The head of the State Duma Committee on Foreign Affairs, Alexei Pushkov, ironically commented on the Polish president's statement, who called the Victory Day Parade in Moscow a "demonstration of force".

"If one listens to Warsaw, then one day the [Russian] bikers threaten Poland's security, another day our parade."

Earlier this week, Poland banned the Russian motorcycle group "Night Wolves" from riding through the country's territory to Berlin to mark the 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazism during World War II.

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