Russian media are claiming that mass demonstrations took place in Munich against German tank supplies to Ukraine. This is a manipulation of a demonstration against something completely different. In the video from the Munich demonstration, there is not a single sign against Germany sending tanks to Ukraine. Such demonstrations, organized by the group München steht auf, are held regularly in the Bavarian capital, usually on Wednesdays. München steht auf is a group that advocates for a world without weapons, they are against vaccinations, against measures for coronavirus containment, and against the German government. The protesters are so-called Querdenkers – “dissenters.” During the coronavirus pandemic, they often disseminated fakes about COVID-19, “harmful vaccinations”, chipping, 5G radiation, and airplane vapor trails conspiracy theories.
Russian Social media accounts and Russian media websites are spreading claims that hundreds of Munich residents protested against Germany’s decision to supply Leopard tanks to Ukraine. “In Munich on Wednesday night, the streets were filled with hundreds of residents protesting against the supply of tanks and weapons to Kyiv and in favor of a peaceful resolution of the conflict. (…) The protesters were holding signs and flags demanding that German tanks not be sent to Ukraine,” the Russian newspaper Vzglyad wrote.
In fact, such protests take place regularly in Munich and they have nothing to do with Germany’s military aid to Ukraine. They are organized by an initiative of the so-called Querdenker, “dissenters”, who stand up for a world without weapons, against government measures to combat the coronavirus, and against the German government itself. In the 6-minute video of the mentioned protest, there is not a single sign calling for an end to the German supply of tanks to Ukraine.
The organizer of this protest is the German initiative München steht auf (Munich Rises). This group holds such rallies regularly. According to the group’s official website. “Munich Rises is a project of motivated people who care about our common future. We are non-partisan, neither right-wing or left-wing, and believe that democracy requires nonviolent cooperation among all forces in society. We are committed to peaceful coexistence. In doing so, we follow general principles of human rights and stand for the protection of animals, resources and the environment, as well as for a self-determined life,” the organization’s website states.
The organization’s official page also lists its other demands: a world without weapons; an end to economic war as another form of warfare; public reevaluation and a stop of all measures for non-proliferation of the coronavirus; a health care system for the benefit of the people, not for the enrichment of corporations; free decision of each person to vaccinate; make the media inform, not form opinions.” The organization represents the so-called Querdenker — “dissenters.” In Germany, this term refers to people who, during the coronavirus pandemic, repeatedly took to the streets to oppose government measures aimed at preventing the spread of the virus. Very often they also spread fakes about the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on their social media pages and on specialized websites.
However, the website of the München steht auf initiative does not mention Ukraine or German Leopard tanks. The movement adheres to the general slogan of “Peace without weapons.” This is not a new slogan and it certainly did not arise after Germany’s recent decision to provide tanks to Ukraine. München steht auf is opposed to all weapons and has long demanded that the German government not send them to any crisis regions. The next protest, similar in content, will take place in Munich on Wednesday, February 1.
A video of this year’s January 25 features prominently in the Russian media. However, in the 6-minute video there is not a single poster calling for an end to German arms supplies to Ukraine. The demonstrators carry white and red flags, German flags, and posters calling for a world without weapons, against abuse of power and corruption. Russian media reports about “mass demonstrations against the supply of tanks to Kyiv” are yet another Russian media manipulation and distortion.
StopFake continues to debunk fakes about Russia’s war against Ukraine in Fake: Paris Demonstrations Against Arms Supplies to Ukraine – Video, Fake: Berlin Zoo Sign Asks Not to Feed Leopards With Zelenskyy’s Empty Talk – Photo, Fake: Abrams and Leopard 2 Tanks Are Harmful for Health.
