Poland bars Russian bikers Night Wolves over security concerns

 

The Polish foreign ministry has banned a biker gang linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin from entering the country.

The Night Wolves had planned to enter next week as part of a ride across Europe to commemorate the 70th anniversary of World War Two.
Poland's prime minister had called the plans by the bikers a "provocation".
The foreign ministry says that the group had not provided enough details of their plans in the country.
In a statement, the ministry said that it had informed the Russian embassy in Warsaw that the lack of information meant "it could not ensure proper security for the participants".

Other Russian bikers not associated with the Night Wolves will be allowed to enter the country, the ministry added.

The nationalistic bikers are supported by the Kremlin and the Russian Orthodox Church; President Putin has been pictured riding with the group.
The Night Wolves' plan was to cross several countries on their way to Berlin, following a path taken by the Red Army in its defeat of Adolf Hitler's Germany.
Sometimes compared to the Hells Angels, they had intended to ride their motorcycles on a 6,000km (3,720 mile) road trip through Russia, Belarus, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria, before reaching Berlin.
The planned ride has sparked outrage in Poland and led to petitions to ban them.
Some Polish newspapers printed photographs on Tuesday of Mr Putin riding an enormous three-wheel Harley-Davidson Lehman Trike with the bikers in Crimea in July 2010.