Updated 11:00 p.m. Moscow time.
MOSCOW, October 14 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed concern over the spread of neo-Nazi ideology in Europe and called for efforts to prevent the revision of the outcome of the Second World War.
"Unfortunately, the vaccine against the Nazi virus, developed at the Nuremberg trials, is losing its effectiveness in some European countries. A clear sign of this trend is open manifestations of neo-Nazism, which have become common in Latvia and other Baltic states," Putin said on the eve of his visit to Serbia on October 16.
"We are especially concerned in this respect about the situation in Ukraine, where an unconstitutional state coup in February was driven by nationalists and other radical groups," Putin said in an interview with Serbian newspaper Politika.
"Today, our common goal is to counter the glorification of Nazism, firmly counter attempts to revise the results of World War II and consequently fight any forms and manifestations of racism, xenophobia, aggressive nationalism and chauvinism," Putin stressed.
Talking about the events of World War II, Putin said that "our nations together cracked down on the criminal ideology of hatred towards the humanity".
"Today it is important that people in different countries and continents understand what horrible ramifications can be brought about by confidence in one's being exceptional, by attempts to achieve doubtful geopolitical aims as well as by neglect of basic human rights and morality. We must do everything to avoid such tragedies in the future," Putin added.
Putin also expressed gratitude to the people of Serbia for respecting the memory of Soviet soldiers, who fought with the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia (NOAYU) during the years of the war. He added that over 31,000 soldiers and officers of the Red Army were either killed, injured or gone missing on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. Besides, he mentioned that over 6,000 soldiers and officers fought against the invaders in the ranks of NOAYU.
Putin will pay a visit to Belgrade on October 16, where he will attend the 70-year anniversary of the liberation of the Serbian capital from Nazi invaders during World War II. He will also have talks with the president and prime minister of Serbia over political and economic cooperation.
