Controversial Ukrainian envoy to depart Germany – media — RT World Information
Kiev reportedly plans to recall its outspoken ambassador to Germany, Andrey Melnik
Kiev’s strident ambassador to Berlin, Andrey Melnik, is perhaps about to depart Germany to doubtlessly take a brand new publish throughout the Ukrainian International Ministry, the German tabloid Bild reported on Monday, citing an unnamed Ukrainian official. Melnik has lately discovered himself on the heart of one more scandal after defending Nazi collaborator and Ukrainian nationwide hero Stepan Bandera in an interview.
The ambassador “would possibly quickly go away Germany and return to Kiev,” Bild stated, citing “a number of sources” within the Ukrainian capital. A brand new ambassador to signify Kiev’s pursuits in Berlin is reportedly being sought, the outlet acknowledged, including that Ukraine would possibly make the transfer earlier than autumn.
Ukraine’s International Ministry has reportedly already requested President Volodymyr Zelensky to contemplate the transfer. “Andrey Melnik may be very a lot appreciated in Kiev for his work,” a Ukrainian authorities official informed Bild. Based on the media outlet, the ambassador would possibly get the publish of deputy overseas minister.
In Germany, Melnik is generally identified for his offensive rhetoric. He has repeatedly criticized Berlin over allegedly not doing sufficient to make Ukrainian refugees “really feel welcome” and being reluctant to provide Kiev with the weapons it requested. In Could, he personally insulted Chancellor Olaf Scholz by calling him an “offended liverwurst” over his refusal to go to Kiev at the moment. In June, the diplomat admitted he regretted berating the chancellor.
Most lately, Melnik discovered himself on the heart of a brand new controversy after he repeatedly defended Stepan Bandera – a controversial Ukrainian nationwide hero who collaborated with the Nazis throughout WWII – in an interview with the German podcaster Tilo Jung. Particularly, the ambassador insisted Bandera was not implicated within the mass homicide of Jews and Poles.
His phrases drew sharp criticism from each Poland and Israel and prompted the Ukrainian International Ministry to say that the ambassador’s phrases have been his personal and didn’t replicate Kiev’s place. On Monday, it grew to become identified that the a part of the interview through which Melnik defended Bandera was blocked by the favored quick video platform TikTok.
The clip that includes Melnik’s phrases about Bandera “violates neighborhood guidelines” of the video-sharing app, Jung wrote in a publish on his present’s Twitter web page. The podcaster referred to as it “censorship of journalism.” Based on the German media, the clip has since been faraway from TikTok.
The German authorities’s antisemitism commissioner, Felix Klein, additionally criticized Melnik’s phrases on Monday by calling them “problematic.” Such statements solely sow discord among the many nations that assist Ukraine, the official stated. He additionally referred to as on Kiev to hitch the Worldwide Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), including that the intergovernmental group could be “an acceptable discussion board” for correctly discussing points raised by the ambassador “at a world degree.”
You may share this story on social media:
