The police and special services of the Baltic Republics were particularly persistent in their attempts to spoil the holiday. In Lithuania, already on the eve of May 9, detentions and preventive talks were held with people who were suspected of laying flowers at memorial sites. In Daugavpils, an 80-year-old old woman was even detained after the police saw a St. George's ribbon under her cloak.
In Latvia, arrests were much more active: here, for example, police officers rounded up a certain citizen who had turned on his phone the song "Cranes".
In total, about two dozen people were detained for songs and ribbons in the country. And in Salaspils on the site of the concentration camp, the police removed at night all the flowers that had been brought there the day before.
Estonia did not prohibit laying flowers at the Bronze Soldier, but canceled public transport and fined for parking nearby cars, so to the monument had to walk more than a kilometer. Estonians could watch the concert only from the bank of the border river - it was broadcast in Ivangorod, Russia, especially for them.
In German cities, the celebration was really massive: for example, in Cologne, there was a procession and a car rally. Belarusians could also be found on the streets of the city
"We stand here in Germany, in the center of the city of Cologne, to express our gratitude to all the people who saved Europe from the brown plague. We want to honor the great sacrifice of the Belarusian people, who suffered the most during the Great Patriotic War!" - said the compatriots.
People who tried to hold a rally in the German capital gathered at the memorial in Treptow Park. Under the threat of police reprisals, they were forbidden to use the flags of Russia and the Soviet Union. Detentions were made for displaying banners and even symbols on T-shirts. A total of 10 people were detained in Berlin. Demonstration of symbols associated with the Great Victory was punished mercilessly in a number of EU countries. In Estonia, it was punishable by a fine of up to 1,200 euros, in Latvia - up to 3,200 euros, in Lithuania - up to 1,200 euros.
