Putin’s regime has been condemned for using ‘horrific’ animal circus to entertain Ukrainian war orphans
Putin regime condemned for using ‘horrific’ animal circus to entertain Ukrainian war orphans in Mariupol
The Kremlin has been convicted of using a “gruesome” animal circus to entertain Ukrainian orphans in Mariupol a year after Russia killed about 600 people in a bomb attack on the city’s theater.
Propaganda films show beavers, bears and bison performing tricks. State news agencies claimed it brought residents “happiness, love and joy” in “difficult times.”
Mariupol was taken after a three-month battle reduced it to ruins.
Videos show a bear dancing with a hoop in Russia’s State Circus, a beaver flying on a trapeze while seemingly urinating in distress, and beavers pulling a carriage of ducks.
Marie Struthers of Amnesty International said: “There is something grotesque about the Russian authorities using a circus to try to normalize their occupation.”
Propaganda films show beavers, bears and bison performing tricks on Ukrainian war orphans
Videos show a bear dancing with a hoop in Russia’s State Circus and a beaver flying on a trapeze while apparently urinating in distress
Dr. Colin Alexander, an expert in political communications at Nottingham Trent University, said the propaganda deliberately included orphans as part of a strategy to “appease” Ukrainians.
Tory MP Alicia Kearns, of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said: “The Kremlin kills children at night and forces them to watch clowns during the day.”