Small rallies as Russians mark 80th anniversary of WWII end in Berlin

Russia's ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechayev, on Friday laid wreaths at Soviet memorials in Berlin to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, while pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian groupings held rallies.

Nechayev visited both the huge Soviet memorial in Treptower Park, in the former East Berlin, and the site in Tiergarten near the Brandenburg Gate, which was part of the city's western sector.

In Russia, the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany is commemorated on May 9, while in Europe the war's end is celebrated on May 8.

The Russian ambassador was accompanied by representatives of other states that were once Soviet republics, as well as bodyguards.

He later hosted a reception at the Russian embassy. Among the attendees were several current and former lawmakers from Germany including former GDR head of state Egon Krenz, former Left Party chairman Klaus Ernst who is now part of the new BSW party, and Sevim Dagdelen, also formerly of the Left Party.

The diplomat wore a St George's ribbon on his lapel, which is considered a symbol of Russian nationalism.

The Berlin police had banned the wearing of the ribbon, as well as the display of other pro-Russian flags and symbols, near the Soviet memorials but diplomats and veterans of the Allied powers of World War II are exempt from these restrictions.

The ambassador's actions came as Russian President Vladimir Putin marked the anniversary of the war's end with a massive military parade in Moscow.

Pro-Russian biker group present

Some members of the pro-Russian Night Wolves biker gang were also seen at the Treptow memorial.

A small group laid a wreath there in the morning. Following police instructions, they removed their vests with insignia, according to a police spokeswoman.

They were due to gather at the other memorial, in Tiergarten, later in the day, but later, most cancelled their plans after speaking with the police.

The Night Wolves, seen as extreme nationalists, are considered supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Only some 50 headed to the city centre and laid wreaths at the memorial. They then planned to go to the Treptower Park memorial, a police spokeswoman said. She noted the police would be there through until the evening to prevent any disturbances.

Isolated protests over war

Ukrainian supporters protested against Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in front of the embassy on Unter den Linden, at Treptower Park and at the Soviet memorial near the Brandenburg Gate.

Meanwhile around 1,200 people took part in a pro-Russian demonstration at the memorial in Tiergarten, police said.

Split up into smaller groups, the demonstrators laid flowers at the memorial.

A police cordon prevented clashes with a small group of Ukrainian demonstrators, according to the police, who noted the pro-Russian demonstrators mostly complied with the ban on flags, symbols and slogans.