BREST: Ten pro-Kremlin bikers on a controversial ride to Berlin to celebrate Soviet victory in World War II were on Monday denied entry into Poland at the Belarusian border, Polish border guards said.

The bikers include members of the Night Wolves, a fiercely nationalist club closely linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

They had planned to ride 6,000kms through Belarus, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Germany before ending their trip in Berlin to celebrate the Red Army’s role in victory over Nazi Germany.

“They refused entry to Poland for all participants “said Andrei Bobrovsky, head of the group of 10 bikers.

Polish officials carried out a three-hour search of all their belongings, Bobrovsky added.

Wearing sunglasses and black leather jacket adorned with “Road of Victory” patches, Bobrovsky said he “was added to the blacklist, had a visa annulled and was forbidden from entering the Schengen zone”.

He said the bikers’ much touted arrival at the Polish border was met with “a lot of special forces” and helicopters hovering overhead.

“It was not very nice treatment,” he said, suggesting that Europe was “scared” that their ride would lead to a growth of pro-Russian sentiments.The bikers did not meet the necessary criteria to be allowed entry into Poland, Polish border guard spokesman Dariusz Sienicki told reporters at the Terespol border post.

He did not elaborate but said individuals could be denied entry for lacking identification documents, a visa or a stated reason for the trip.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2015

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