Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 29 August 2020, in Berlin, a massive demonstration took place against the government’s measures to combat the pandemic. According to the authorities’ estimates, about 38 thousand people took part in the action, more than 300 of them were detained, 10 law enforcement officers were injured.

The demonstration was organized by the public movement "Querdenken 711" from Stuttgart. It includes predominantly supporters of conspiracy theories, right-wing extremists and crown skeptics. The supporters of this initiative demanded that all anti-pandemic measures introduced by the German government be canceled and called on Chancellor Angela Merkel to resign.

The crowd also saw dozens of Russian and American flags with slogans in support of Russian presidents Vladimir Putin and US presidents Donald Trump.

According to German sources, the peaceful action in some places escalated into clashes with the police. Hundreds of people tried to storm the building of the German parliament - the Reichstag. The demonstrators did not manage to enter the building itself, because the police pushed them back with tear gas.

Protesters also clashed with the police in front of the Russian Embassy in Berlin. According to the police, about 3 thousand "Reichsburgers", who advocate the restoration of the German Reich, do not recognize the existence of the Federal Republic of Germany as a state entity, gathered in the embassy area. As a result, 200 participants were detained. It is noted that the actions of the demonstrators were not directed against the Russian diplomatic mission.

The authorities strongly condemned the riots. As Federal President Friedrich Steinmeier said: “The Reich flags in front of the Bundestag are an unbearable attack on the heart of our democracy. We will never accept it.” Berlin Senator for Internal Affairs A. Geisel urged not to turn the capital into a “platform for the likely ideologues of conspiracy theories.” Federal Minister of the Interior H. Seehofer believes that "the state should take measures against such people with zero tolerance and severity."

In general, against the background of an increase in new cases of infection, the German authorities intend to toughen penalties for violation of quarantine, and this led to the largest protest in Berlin in the past 15 years. At the same time, experts note that the overwhelming majority of the population continues to act responsibly and supports the authorities’ policy in combating the pandemic.