So-called LPR plans to open representative office in Austria
Leaders from the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) announced their intention to open a “diplomatic office” in Austria.
This information was distributed by websites associated with the LPR.
According to the LPR, “the office” will be engaged in “outreach activities” and coordinate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the occupied Ukrainian territory.
The organization will be headed, according to them, by the Austrian social activist Alfred Almeder.
The Austrian edition of Die Presse notes that Almeder did not suspect that he was in violation Ukrainian law by traveling to the LPR without permission from the Ukrainian side.
In the “Workers’ Union providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine,” he is only a cashier; it is managed by leftist journalist Leo Gabriel. Patrick Poppel, from the Viennese Suworow Institute, is also an active member of the organization and stands for “honest dialogue with Russia.”
In comments to TSN, Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria Olexander Scherba said that this news came as a surprise not only to him but also to Austria.
Scherba said he will raise the issue of pseudo-representation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Austria.
“A certain group of enthusiasts appeared and suddenly became more active. We know that they exist because occasionally at public events they open up a booth under the name of, for example, ‘in support of LPR.’ I think that now this booth will simply be renamed to the ‘Representative Office of LPR.’ It was a matter of time until one of the many underemployed Austrians, who support the LPR, would start handing out business cards, saying that he is their representative,” the Ambassador said.
Scherba advised Ukrainians “not to overestimate this clownery,” and added that “in reality, the world did not recognize, does not recognize and will never recognize this comedy show.”
Scherba wrote on Twitter that Alfred Almeder, who was “delegated” by representatives from the LPR, appears not to be willing to lead any organizations related to them.
“Vaudeville with the ‘diplomatic mission of LPR’ continues. The Austrian, who was granted this ‘honor,’ knows nothing about it. He is saying it’s true he visited the LPR, but doesn’t want to be an ambassador,” Scherba wrote.
Previously the Czech authorities reported that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry expressed protest and handed a note to the Embassy of the Czech Republic in connection with the registration of the so-called Mission Center of the DPR in the city of Ostrava.
The Czech Foreign Ministry, in connection with the opening of the center, said the self-proclaimed DPR cannot have any diplomatic missions or consular posts in the Czech Republic.
The Ministry also sent a letter to Neelie Liskova, who calls herself “Honorary Consul,” asking her to stop using the title immediately.