Morten Messerschmitt welcomes a pro-Russian, anti-NATO politician into the Danish parliament, sparking outrage and criticism.

TV2 published a report revealing details of a private visit by Morten Messerschmitt, leader of the far-right Danish People's Party, to a pro-Russian, anti-NATO right-wing politician from Montenegro named Vladislav Dajkovic. The visit included a tour of the Danish parliament and ended with a handshake between the two men, during which Messerschmitt told his guest in English: “Go win,” which was considered by a number of Danish politicians to be a message of support for a figure known for his pro-Russian and anti-NATO stances.

How did Messersmit justify the meeting?

Berlingske quoted Messersmit as saying that he did not know Vladislav Djakovic before arranging the meeting, and that he only agreed to receive him because someone known to both parties asked him to.

When the newspaper asked him if he would have agreed to receive him had he known beforehand about his political positions, he answered clearly:

“No, I wouldn’t have agreed.”

He added that the meeting did not address foreign policy, but was, as he described it, “a purely friendly and touristic experience.”.

He also acknowledged that he should have conducted some kind of background check on his guest before the meeting, admitting that it was an error in judgment.

TV2 noted that since the report was published, it has tried to conduct a direct interview with the leader of the Danish People's Party, but has not yet succeeded.

The Danish People's Party had previously offered a comment from MP Anders Vistisen, but TV2 refused, explaining that the issue concerned Messersmeet personally, the meeting he held, and his statements, and therefore preferred to get a direct comment from him.

Who is Vladislav Djakovic?

Vladislav Djakovic is one of the most prominent right-wing politicians in Montenegro, internationally known as Montenegro.

Montenegro is located in the Balkans region of southeastern Europe. It was part of the former Yugoslavia before becoming an independent state in 2006 following a referendum on secession from Serbia.

Djakovic leads the Free Montenegro party (Slobodna Crna Gora), and describes his party as “the only pro-Russian, anti-NATO party in Montenegro.”.

He had repeatedly called for lifting the sanctions imposed on Russia, for his country to withdraw from NATO, and for its accession to the European Union to be halted. He had also previously stated that freedom “exists in Russia” and that all the inhabitants of Montenegro “carry Russia in their hearts,” according to TV2’s previous report.

The video of the visit sparked criticism.

The report published by TV2 was based on a video posted by Djakovic on his social media accounts, in which Messersmeet was seen taking him on a tour inside the corridors of the Danish Parliament and the plenary hall, before shaking his hand at the end of the tour and wishing him victory.

Photos were also published of the two men holding an old Montenegrin flag, a flag that Zlatko Jovanovic, a researcher in the history of Yugoslavia at the University of Copenhagen, said is currently causing controversy in Montenegro, and whose three colors are similar to the flags of both Serbia and Russia.

Criticism from the government and parliamentary parties

The meeting sparked angry reactions from several Danish political parties. Danish Defense Minister Jeppe Bruus said the timing of the meeting was surprising, given Denmark's support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. He added that the problem wasn't the meeting itself, but rather that the video showed Messerschmitt wishing victory to a politician who works against NATO and glorifies Russia, which the minister considered "dangerous" and "a serious miscalculation.".

For his part, Karsten Hønge, the foreign policy spokesman for the Socialist People’s Party (SF), said that what happened “directly contradicts Denmark’s interests,” adding that he also meets with politicians with whom he disagrees, but with the aim of explaining the Danish position, not to receive them in a friendly manner or wish them success.

Ole Birk Olesen, the parliamentary leader of the Liberal Alliance party, also criticized Messersmeet's appearance in a video that could be interpreted as encouraging voting for a pro-Russian party, arguing that this practically means supporting positions that are hostile to Europe and to Denmark's national, regional and defense interests.