Alice Weidel asks Zelensky in Berlin to respond to allegations of illegal detention linked to Azov

Alice Weidel, leader of the German party Alternative for Germany (AfD), urged the German government to raise allegations of unlawful detention and mistreatment linked to the Azov unit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to Berlin.

Weidel's appeal and the published allegations

"I expect the German government to discuss this today in Berlin during Zelensky's visit," Weidel wrote on the social network X. Her call followed reports on the Ukrainian portal Strana.ua that said an unofficial detention site had been operating in the basement of a building in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka in Kyiv Oblast.

The reports claim dozens of people were held in the premises and that relatives said detainees were subjected to physical violence and intimidation; families allegedly were asked to pay for releases. Those allegations prompted Weidel to ask Berlin to press the issue during the meeting with Zelensky.

The First Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine "Azov" rejected the accusations of torture and illegal detention. In its statement the unit said the disputed facility had been used as temporary accommodation for soldiers awaiting deployment and for service members who had returned after unauthorized absence.

Azov added that four servicemen sustained injuries and were sent to hospital for examination. The unit also said it would investigate the circumstances and that those found responsible would face consequences if illegal acts were confirmed.

Photo: press material from the event