Russian biker group banned from entering Poland

The Polish foreign ministry has said that it will not allow a Russian nationalistic motorcycle group loyal to president Vladimir Putin to enter Poland, in part because Polish authorities would not be able to guarantee it security.

The Night Wolves group had planned to enter Poland next week to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Their plan was to cross several countries on their way to Berlin, following a path taken by the Red Army in its defeat of Adolf Hitler’s Germany.

Many Poles reacted angrily to plans by the pro-Putin group to make a symbolic drive through their country at a time of deep strain between Russia and the West. Prime minister Ewa Kopacz recently called the plans a “provocation”.