The savage Reich: a Nazi monkey and a goat wearing a swastika at a Russian circus show off anger and a criminal probe
- The strange show was commissioned by the Russian Ordinary Church
- It showed animals with Swastika hats led by trainers in Nazi costumes
- The church and the circus argue that the show shows the Soviet influence on Hitler
- Russian law allows Nazi symbols to be displayed when displayed in a negative light
Prosecutors in Russia have launched a probe to a circus show featuring a monkey in Nazi costumes and a goat parade in swastikas.
The bizarre show was commissioned by the Russian Orthodox Church and captured on video.
The performance, which was watched by children, showed the animals under the control of trainers in Soviet uniforms.
Prosecutors in Russia have launched a probe to a circus show featuring a monkey in Nazi costumes and a goat parade in swastikas
The weird show was commissioned by the Russian Orthodox Church and was watched by children
Russian law usually prohibits the display of Nazi symbols but last year Vladimir Putin signed an exemption when they are displayed in a negative light.
The show was held in the Udmurtia State Circus in Izhevsk, a city famous as the headquarters of the Kalashnikov military base.
Police and prosecutors are investigating the demonstration, which coincided with Russia’s Orthodox Christmas celebrations last week.
Police and prosecutors are investigating the demonstration, which coincided with Russia’s Orthodox Christmas celebrations last week.
The circus and the church have since argued that the goats, with ‘capes’ depicting the swastika, and a monkey in Nazi costume, showed the Soviet influence on Hitler.
However, when critical comments were made, images were removed from websites.
The church said: ‘The performance of trainers in Soviet military uniforms with animals with Nazi symbols was used as an image not only of the influence of fascism’, it also reflected ‘worldwide criticism of ideas Nazi Germany ‘.
They said: ‘You have to understand that it is a unique feature of entertainment circus art, and nothing is surprising given that the images used there have an ironic and sometimes even grotesque character. ‘
The circus and church have since argued that the animals reflected the Soviet influence on Hitler.
The display showed a turning point in the battle to save Moscow from the Nazis in January 1942, they said.
The display showed a turning point in the battle to save Moscow from the Nazis in January 1942, it was said.
The circus said the display was ordered by the church and ‘trainers in the form of soldiers from the Red Army running trained animals with Nazi symbols’.
The church and the circus say they did not commit any crime because the Nazi symbols are not used for propaganda.
The show took place in the Udmurtia State Circus in Izhevsk (pictured), a town famous as the headquarters of the Kalashnikov military base.
Rashid Khusnutdinov, chairman of Udmurtia’s public chamber, said: ‘The unnatural and misanthropic nature of Nazism should not be diminished in any way.
‘For these reasons, the law allows the use of Nazi symbols.
‘For example, we see this in a number of remarkable Soviet films about the Great Patriotic War (World War II).’
Prosecutors have not commented on their investigation.