Niamh Harris – A famous 198-year-old Russian oak tree was banned from entering the European Tree of the Year competition because of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

In a political statement reflecting the ongoing wave of Russiaphobia, the organizers of the competition disqualified the Russian contender because of Putin’s military operation in Ukraine.

The tree which had been planted by novelist Ivan Turgenev, was disqualified by a panel in Brussels, with a statement citing the “unprecedented aggression against a neighboring country”. Continue reading →