Downpatrick Alliance Constituency Office Vandalised with Far-Right Wing Graffiti
Alliance MLA Patrick Brown has spoken out after his constituency office in Downpatrick was vandalised with far-right graffiti.
The graffiti, which was shaped in a z- like shape, is the symbol of a Ukrainian Far-right wing military group named the Azov Brigade.
It was branded on either side of the constituency office with spray paint.
Constituency office staff have since removed the offensive graffiti.
The Azoz Brigade is part of the National Guard in Ukraine but has received intense criticism for its links to and support of neo-.
Whilst it was adopted into the National Guard largely as a result of the present war and the need for combatants, its involvement remains controversial and the US military has declined to train its soldiers.
However, it is also important to note that Russia has seized on this fact as part of a propaganda campaign,
Russia is trying to claim Ukraine’s army as a whole has neo-nazi sympathies, which is of course false says Patrick Brown.
He added: “The PSNI are aware of the graffiti and are looking into CCTV around my constituency office.
“The motivation behind this attack is unclear, but I am disappointed that my office was the victim of this vandalism.
“These far-right messages are offensive and not representative of me or of Downpatrick.
“My office will continue to support anyone from any background including Ukrainian refugees who have moved here as a result of the war.
“I will not be intimidated by this graffiti or far-right groups.
