Night Wolves Barred Access to Poland to Reach WWII Event in Berlin

A Russian a group of motorcycle enthusiasts with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin has been barred from entering Poland en route to an event commemorating the end of World War II.

The New York Times reports that a group known as the Night Wolves will have to find a way to Germany that does not involve transiting Poland if they wish to attend an event in Berlin marking the end of the World War II on May 9.

The group's original itinerary had them passing through Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany.

Poland justified the decision to ban the group's entry into the country on the fact they were given short notice. Poland said the Russian government requested permission for the group to transit Poland just six days ago. The request did not include the group's route, number of members, or where they would be staying. Poland also said they asked for the information from Russia but received no response.

Russia has denied these claims and said that it provided all of the pertinent information regarding the group's travels to the Polish authorities.

CBS News reports that the path was supposed to follow that of the Red Army as it marched to Berlin during the second world war.

The decision to bar the Night Wolves entry may also be due to the fact that tensions between Poland and Russia are high because of Russian adventurism in Ukraine. A portion of the Polish population hates Russia because of the two nations' relationship during the Cold War when Poland was ruled by the Soviet Union. This animosity runs so deep that after war broke out in Ukraine, some Poles began to take voluntary paramilitary training to prepare for Russian aggression.