Without protection and permission
Gysi also travels to Kyiv on his own initiative
May 2, 2022, 3:08 p.m
Several top politicians have already visited the war zone in Ukraine. After CDU leader Merz, left-wing politician Gysi also announced a trip to Kyiv. Neither the Federal Criminal Police Office nor the Bundestag Presidium know about it.
Left-wing foreign politician Gregor Gysi will be traveling through Ukraine from Tuesday to Sunday, visiting the capital Kyiv, the suburbs of Bucha and Irpin, and the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. As parliamentary group spokesman Michael Schlick announced, Gysi will be accompanied by the left-wing candidate in the federal presidential election last February, Gerhard Trabert. Visits to hospitals, emergency clinics and discussions with representatives of aid organizations are planned.
The journey through the war zone takes place without personal protection by the Federal Criminal Police Office and without the approval of the Bundestag Presidium. Schlick said the BKA and Bundestag had proposed a one-day trip to the three-person delegation, which included Gysi and Trabert as well as himself. But they refused and are now traveling without BKA protection.
Meetings with Ukrainian parliamentarians or the government in Kyiv are not yet planned. Schlick explained that Gysi had asked the Ukrainian ambassador Andriy Melnyk to mediate talks, but had received no answer. “The members of the delegation regret this, but they are not canceling the trip because humanitarian aid is more important.”
Trabert wants to give a clinic a dermatome donated by the association “Poverty and Health in Germany” for skin transplantation. This association would hand over EUR 20,000 and EUR 6,000 to aid organizations from the parliamentary group and individuals.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz also confirmed his trip to Kyiv on Monday. The Union faction leader travels to Kyiv despite a warning from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). “I did not request accompaniment by the BKA and it was not offered by the BKA,” said Merz.