An exhibition concerning the historical past of the conflict in Ukraine not too long ago opened on the Heart of Navy Glory in Petrozavodsk, the capital Karelia in Northwestern Russia. On show are numerous displays from the battlefields, in addition to trophies, which, based on Karelian governor Artur Parfenchikov, show the alliance’s participation in hostilities in Ukraine.
Parfenchikov has revealed images from the exhibition on his official social media web page. One of many pictures reveals objects with inscriptions in overseas languages – for instance, a field for cartridges with inscriptions in German or a field of dry rations with inscriptions in English – weapons and army insignia. Telegram-channel From Karelia with freedom notes that subsequent to the army insignia, presumably of the British troops, there’s sleeve patch with the picture of the nationwide Karelian flag.
“The pinnacle of Karelia has not defined how this sleeve patch bought to the exhibition, however the look of a patch with the Karelian flag has already prompted bewilderment on social media. All this appears to be like like a provocation designed to discredit the nationwide flag of the Karelian individuals, which is historically used within the republic at congresses and cultural occasions,” From Karelia with freedom says.
The exhibition additionally incorporates a helmet with the inscription “Akhmat sila” (“Akhmat is pressure”). It was the Akhmat battalion that the previous mayor of Petrozavodsk, Vladimir Lyubarsky, joined after leaving his submit to take part within the conflict. Troopers of this unit have been accused of quite a few conflict crimes: kidnappings, torture, homicide. In 2022, a video appeared on the Web of Russian servicemen torturing, castrating and killing a Ukrainian prisoner of conflict. A journalistic investigation discovered that Akhmat fighters had been concerned on this. In August 2022, the Ukraine’s Safety Service reported that the commander of the Akhmat particular unit was suspected of massacres. And on June 17, a video of an interrogation of a Russian prisoner of conflict appeared on-line, the place he talks about how “Kadyrovites” raped girls and kids.
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The nationwide flag of the Karelians is a black cross with a purple border on a inexperienced subject. It was designed by the well-known Finnish artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela; within the spring of 1920, it was permitted as one of many symbols of the unbiased North Karelian state, higher generally known as the Ukhta Republic. 4 years in the past, member of the Karelian parliament Andrei Rogalevich proposed making this flag the second state flag of the Republic of Karelia, however his initiative was by no means voted on.
Karelia is the one nationwide republic in Russia the place the language of the indigenous inhabitants doesn’t have state standing.