Germany and Russia fought one of the most violent battle of World War Two to the bitter end. It has been a long time since the Cold War when Germany and Russia has something to argue about and yesterday, Germany struck the opening salvo.
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German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said his country had noted with concern the reports received from election observers sent by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)."
"'They show that the Russian Federation still has a way to go to fulfill all of the OSCE standards,' he told the meeting."
"'We encourage the Russian Federation, also when considering the next elections in Russia, to move in that direction,' he told the conference, referring to March's presidential vote."
Germany's statements shows of getting into Russian domestic issues. It is one thing for the US to criticize the Kremlin but for Germany to so could open old wounds and scary historical geopolitical realities. In two world wars Germany and Russia have been suspicious of each other which lead to vicious battles. In both instances, Europe has found a United Germany and a Russian country under communist leadership. We must remember that Putin longs for the days of the Soviet Union.
We are far away from a scary scenario but careful observation must be made. Europe is reeling now from an economic crisis and Germany could be the strongest nation to come out of it while repression is slowly getting back in Russia along with the leadership of Putin. The developments are becoming eerily similar to the days of the first half of the last century.
