The whole world, from Washington to Beijing, expresses support to Russia and St. Petersburg. Heads of state and government, international organizations, and millions of ordinary people express their solidarity and sympathy. Spontaneous memorials are growing near the Russian diplomatic missions. At midnight, in Paris, in memory of the victims of the tragedy, the lights of the Eiffel Tower will be switched off.

Today, the Berliners called shameful the decision of the city authorities not to illuminate the Brandenburg Gate with the colors of the Russian flag. Report of Mikhail Antonov.





A lot of articles with arguments about who could stand behind the terrorist attack in St. Petersburg appeared in the Western press over the past day. Smart people compete in the depth of the analysis of the Russian foreign and domestic policies. But there were problems with the manifestation of simple human emotions, complicity and compassion. In Berlin, I can say, there is a scandal about this.

On Monday evening, the Brandenburg Gate wasn’t illuminated with the colors of the Russian flag. The Berlin Senate motivated this decision by the fact that St. Petersburg and the German capital are not twin cities. This bureaucratic excuse outraged the Germans. On the website of the Berliner Zeitung newspaper, there was an article with a reminder that not in all cases did it stop the Town Hall from changing the illumination of the main symbol of Berlin. Exceptions were made after the terrorist attacks in Jerusalem and Orlando, although in the latter case, due to the fact that people in the gay club were shot, the gate was illuminated with the colors of LGBT. Such a poor excuse. They do everything to continue baiting against Russia. What a disgrace.

German politicians should be ashamed. How petty it is to show solidarity only with partnering cities and gays. Surely, it was an order given by the authorities not to use illumination. Shameful behavior. There is only one question for burgomaster Muller. Why?

After all, if we look closer into it, the Germans write, the Berlin district of Mitte, where the gates are, is a partner of the Petrogradsky district of St. Petersburg. On the other hand, the absence of formal ties with the northern capital of Russia did not prevent the mayor of Tel Aviv from illuminating his office with white, blue, and red. No one can be compelled to sympathize, but sincere gestures at such moments are especially important and remembered for a long time. In this sense, the official reaction of the Western leaders is sincere in a human way. Awful, this is a terrible thing. This is happening all around the world. And politically unambiguous.

The United States condemns this attack and the act of violence. Our thoughts and prayers are now with the victims and with the Russian people. We express our deepest condolences to the relatives of the dead and wounded. Trump called Putin. Hollande has already offered help. The British Prime Minister and the German Chancellor sent telegrams to Russia. I wrote to President Putin to express condolences on my behalf and on behalf of the entire British people in connection with this absolutely horrific attack. Everything indicates that this was a cowardly act of terrorism. If this proves to be true, then this is a barbaric act, which I strongly condemn.

The question of who was behind the attack remains the subject of speculation. Among the versions being put forward in the Western media, there is the conspiracy theory about the explosion in the subway being an attempt to divert the attention of the Russians from the causes and consequences of the March 26 events. More rational assumptions are about ISIS or associated Wahhabi underground.

However, they lead to the same conclusion. In order to at least avoid tragedies, the civilized forces in the East and West, in the North and South have only one chance which is closer cooperation. In the view of a terrorist threat, Russia is on the same side of the barricade with the West. Beijing, Tokyo, Belgrade, NATO, the European Commission, and the European Parliament are also on the same side.

After dark, the lights of the Eiffel Tower will be switched off in Paris, where, like London, Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn, and Kiev, people are bringing flowers to the doors of the Russian embassies. In the middle of the day, the ruling Mayor of Berlin Muller came to Unter den Linden accompanied by his colleagues. 77% of Germans polled by the Morgenpost newspaper condemned his decision not to change the illumination of the Brandenburg Gate. Today, the Russian flag will be projected on the Palace of Culture in Dresden.