Day of Russia. Two ways to celebrate
On Sunday, June 11, a celebration of the so-called «Day of Russia» took place on the central square of Cyprus, Eleftheria (Freedom Square). The event was organized by the «Cyprus-Russia Society of Friendship and Cultural Relations,» the «Association of Graduates of Soviet and Russian Universities,» and the «Coordination Council of Russian Compatriots in the Republic of Cyprus.» The event was supported by the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Cyprus.
Several dozen Russian citizens and supporters of the Putin regime participated in the celebration. The loud music also attracted the interest of citizens of different nationalities who were strolling through the city center at that time. The festive atmosphere was fueled by alcohol and snacks. In addition to Russian flags adorning the crowd, there were also some peculiarities such as flags of the self-proclaimed quasi-republic «DPR» (ironically, despite Cyprus having its long-standing pain with occupied territories, it tolerates the display of flags from other occupied and unrecognized territories) and the flag of the private military company «Wagner.» “Wagner” PMC gained widespread notoriety after carrying out combat missions in eastern Ukraine during the full-scale military aggression unleashed by Russia against Ukraine since February 2022. “Wagner” fighters, who have recently been recruited from Russian prisoners, are known for numerous war crimes, particularly their brutal treatment of civilians and prisoners of war. One by one, European countries are starting to recognize the “Wagner” PMC as a terrorist organization. The Russian Center for Science and Culture in Cyprus, shamelessly posted photos with these flags on their page, along with other pictures
