Putin's bikers on the prowl trying to cross Poland

[Surya Gayatri]

Poland will not allow the Russian motorcycle gang Night Wolves to enter the country, the Polish Foreign Ministry said on Friday.


"The Foreign Ministry has passed a diplomatic note to the Russian Embassy in Warsaw, concerning a denial of entry to Poland to an organized group of motorcyclists, which included representatives of the Night Wolves club," the ministry said in a statement.

Throughout Poland, the Night Wolves are not seen as your average motorcycle gang. Led by Alexander Zaldostanov - a.k.a. "Surgeon" as he is a medical doctor by profession - they have been branded as a group of pro-Putin Russian nationalists. Zaldostanov often shows up at events with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who, during one demonstration, was conspicuously visible amongst the Wolves in their distinctive leather jackets.


Friends in high places

Last year the gang allegedly actively participated in the Russian annexation of the Crimea, performing various reconnaissance tasks and also abducting one of the naval leaders of the Ukrainian fleet.

Now the Night Wolves want to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the victory over Adolf Hitler by riding to Berlin. Most EU leaders have refused to attend a parade in Moscow on May 9, prompting the gang to organize a rally to Berlin - starting from the Russian capital on April 25 - taking them through Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, and Austria, and reaching the German capital on May 9.

"No" campaign

News of their plans triggered a fierce backlash in Poland. A document entitled "NO to the ride of the Night Wolves through Poland" immediately appeared on Facebook, garnering 9,000 likes within minutes.


http://www.dw.de/putins-bikers-on-the-prowl/a-18393418

[edgineered]

1. What a strange MC

not a ural in sight, sports bikes and goldwings up front?

[blm]

2. Putin learned well from America's RW propagandists how to manipulate perception

and using every macho stereotype in the GOP playbook. Bush was frightened little privileged brat, but, he knew how to ACT like a macho bully. RW voters lapped it up with a spoon. Corpmedia became too frightened to challenge him or the image being conveyed, instead they played into it.

[Surya Gayatri]

4. He hasn't missed a trick in portraying himself as the "man's man".

[2naSalit]

3. Mad Max or Mad Vlad? n/t