Germany will not invite Russia and Belarus to second world war commemoration

Moscow and Minsk ambassadors excluded over concerns they could exploit' event for anti-Ukraine propaganda

The ambassadors of Russia and Belarus will not be invited to the German parliament's commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war over concerns they could exploit" the event for anti-Ukraine propaganda.

The ceremony in the Bundestag lower house on 8 May marking the allies' defeat of Nazi Germany will include several representatives of the diplomatic corps in Berlin but bar the envoys from Moscow and Minsk based on the government's assessment on the invitation of representatives", a parliament spokesperson said.