Ukrainian Prime Minister Zelensky addressed the Greek Parliament via video. As part of his address, he included a Greek speaking member of the Azov battalion.
During his speech he showed a video with a message by a man who identified himself as a member of the Azov battalion, a far-right militia now part of Ukraine’s National Guard.
“I address you, as a Greek by origin. I am Mikhail, my grandfather fought against the Nazis… I participate in the defence of Ukraine through the Azov Battalion,” he said.
This has infuriated some members of the Greek Parliament.
But the video caused a backlash on social media and an angry reaction from leftist parties.
Shortly after the speech, the head of the leftist Syriza party Alexis Tsipras said the incident was a provocation. “Solidarity with the Ukrainian people is a given. But the Nazis can not have a say in parliament,” he tweeted.
MPs from the main Greek opposition SYRIZA party walked out of the speech
Greece was taken over by the Nazis during the Second World War. Greeks suffered greatly under the occupation. Over 40,000 Greeks died of starvation and much of Greece’s industry was destroyed.