Athens | “We have always been on the right side of history”: when the Greek Prime Minister speaks during a parliamentary debate on the war in Ukraine, there is no doubt about the position of his government.
“We are either on the side of peace and international law, or against it,” urged Kyriakos Mitsotakis, announcing a humanitarian aid convoy to Ukraine.
But for many Greeks, after centuries of close religious, cultural and even existential ties with Russia, the choice is not so obvious.
“Greek public opinion has a Russophile dimension, nourished by friendly feelings linked to history, a common culture based on Orthodoxy and for some, a mistrust of the West”, notes Nikos Marantzidis, professor of Slavic, Oriental and Balkan studies at the University of Macedonia.
According to a poll by the Kappa research center, 20% of Greeks questioned after the Russian invasion of Ukraine say they are “closer” to Moscow and 45% support Kiev.
Barely 8% promise to boycott Russian products, 2% to avoid all contact with Russians. And if 75% condemn the position of President Vladimir Putin, more than 60% remain critical of his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
Putin, “a great leader”
“A minority, not insignificant at all, still views Putin positively,” observes Mr. Marantzidis.
Whatever the outcome of the conflict, “a hard core” of 10 to 15% of the electorate “will continue to see him as a great leader”, estimates the expert.
The Greeks have fought alongside Russia since the 18and century, the Orthodox friend-state being historically considered as the protective and powerful counterweight against the neighboring Turkish rival.
In 1827, Russia joined England and France in the battle of Navarino, decisive for Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire.
Memories of the NATO bombardments on the friendly and neighboring Serbian country in 1999 during the Kosovo war remain vivid, notes Mr. Marantzidis.
So is the residual animosity against the West born of the austerity cures imposed by Germany and its European allies during the Greek debt crisis.
Russians are also excellent customers of the tourism industry, with hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to Greece.
A year ago, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Michoustin was guest of honor at the celebrations of the bicentenary of the Greek revolution of 1821.
But twelve months later, bilateral relations are frozen and thousands of Greeks demonstrate against the war alongside Ukrainians living in Greece.
“Threats and insults”
The Russian embassy in Athens this week castigated the “threats and insults” against its nationals in Greece, calling on the police to investigate.
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias is among the last foreign ministers to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov just before the February 24 invasion.
But the death of a dozen Greeks from Ukraine, from a diaspora of 100,000 souls living in the Mariupol region, dealt a blow to Greek-Russian relations.
For Athens, these human losses are the result of Russian air strikes, which Moscow denies, which accuses Kiev.
On February 27, the Russian Embassy in Athens called on Greek politicians and media to “be reasonable” and to stop disseminating “anti-Russian propaganda”.
“Greeks are not historically naive and giddy to the point of being impressed by outside voices,” retorted government spokesman Yiannis Economou, saying “no one can sow discord among us.”
On the Russian Embassy’s Facebook page, pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian Greeks exchange insults every day.
Most are shocked by Russian attacks on civilians, while more than 7,000 Ukrainians have taken refuge in Greece.
“Your people resisted and fought the Nazis and now you are following in their footsteps,” criticizes Leila Rosaki.
But many remain openly pro-Putin.
“Putin will be remembered in history as a great and valiant leader,” writes Stelios Markou.
“Well done, pursue them all to Germany, as in the past,” applauds Ilias Karavitis.
“Zelensky is begging Europe and NATO to get involved, he is trying to start World War III. Let’s pray that he keeps quiet,” agrees Nelli Ign.
“May God protect President Putin and all Russians who fight for freedom”, also implores Thiresia Sakel.
