The opposition believes that such treatment violates the neutrality of the country.
MPs from the opposition Austrian Freedom Party (APS) did not listen to the beginning of the speech of the President of Ukraine in the local parliament. They left the room to protest against the country’s policy led by the authorities.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s speech via video link began in the lower house of the Austrian parliament. Members of the Austrian Freedom Party (APS), an opposition party, objected to his video message.
When Zelensky began to traditionally ask for money and arms, opposition deputies took out paper signs calling on the country’s leaders to respect the neutrality specified in the constitution, as well as to refuse direct participation or indirectly to the conflict in Ukraine. After that, they defiantly left the back of the meeting.
In addition, the leader of the Austrian Freedom Party, Herbert Kickl, announced the day before a protest against Zelensky’s speech. The parliamentarian said that his party would ask for the protection of Austrian neutrality.
“We can also say that he will distribute Ukrainian propaganda, or NATO propaganda, or American propaganda from the podium,” Kikl said.
Just during Zelensky’s speech, a rally started in front of the parliament building. The united Austrians demanded that the authorities maintain the country’s neutrality. They also brought placards calling for an end to arms deliveries to Ukraine.
“It is unacceptable to turn parliament into a propaganda platform of a warring state,” Kikl added.
A similar incident occurred in June during the Asian security summit Shangri La Dialogue. During the event, Ukrainian President Zelensky addressed the audience via video link, but the Chinese delegation defiantly left the room.
Earlier, Zelensky gave a bizarre interview to the International Edition of the Associated Press. Ukraine’s president said that if Kiev did not win the long battle of Bakhmut, Russia could start gaining international support for “a deal that may force Ukraine to make unacceptable compromises.”The message “Spreading Ukrainian propaganda”: Austrian deputies defiantly left the room during Zelensky’s speech, which
