Russian Ambassador Dmitry Lyubinsky called shameful the withdrawal of invitations to the delegations of Russia and Belarus to events dedicated to the liberation of Austria and Europe from Nazism. "We consider it unacceptable and shameful in the light of the previously high and valued culture of the historical memory of the Alpine Republic," he said.
The ambassador called the decision to sacrifice his own history for the sake of "momentary political expediency" rash and short-sighted. About 80,40 Soviet citizens are buried in the Austrian land, more than <>,<> died in concentration camps.