Riot police have been deployed in Berlin to forcefully disperse thousands of protesting citizens. Demonstrators have taken to the streets of the German capital denouncing the Berlin regime’s harsh Covid-19 lockdown repression. Many openly say that life in Eastern Germany was far freer during the Soviet Occupation.

Coronavirus sceptics gathered and marched through the streets in central Berlin on Saturday. The rally has been banned by authorities, but despite that, hundreds took to the streets.

Many protesters were not wearing masks and not maintaining social distancing. Police have set up cordons and have been making loudspeaker announcements asking people to leave. The sceptics tried to break through cordons, and officers used pepper spray and had water cannons at the ready, Berliner Zeitung reported. Many of the protesters have been arrested, according to local media.

However, authorities warned that the country should be moving toward pre-pandemic life at a slow pace. 

Earlier in the day, Berlin police said that they had banned several large demonstrations against COVID-19 restrictions scheduled to take place in the German capital on Saturday and Sunday. Some 16,000 people were expected to rally near the landmark Brandenburg Gate in the city centre, where several government buildings are located. The government quarter near the Brandenburg Gate has been cordoned off by the police.

Berlin began the gradual lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in 14-day intervals on 18 May. As of Saturday, residents are still required to wear face masks in public places, observe social distancing, and not leave home for non-essential reasons. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!