Uneasy rider

RUSSIAN flags streaming behind them and Orthodox crosses emblazoned on their leather jackets, the Night Wolves roared up to the border between Poland and Belarus on Monday, intending to ride to Warsaw and Berlin to commemorate the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany 70 years ago. They never made it through. Border guards blocked the Russian ultra-nationalist biker gang (pictured), which has close links to the Kremlin, from entering Poland. It was one of the more colourful episodes so far in Russia's efforts to use next month's anniversary of victory in the second world war as propaganda for its aggressive foreign policy, in Ukraine and throughout Europe.

The Night Wolves and their leader, Alexander Zaldostanov, are longtime backers of Russian president Vladimir Putin, and he has used them as propaganda tools before. Last August in Sevastopol, they staged a massive rally supporting Russia's annexation of Crimea that was broadcast on state television. The planned ride in Poland was clearly part of a similar campaign. Ewa Kopacz, Poland's prime minister, described it as a "provocation". Officially, Poland barred the gang for failing to provide sufficient information about its plans, saying it could not guarantee the riders' safety. A Polish foreign ministry spokesman denied that the refusal was political; other Russians travelling to Poland to mark the anniversary of victory have been allowed in, he said. The denial rang hollow, not least to the Russians. The Russian foreign ministry called the Polish statement an "obvious lie".