A provocative protest including racist and hateful speeches targeting Armenians was organized in the Sergel Square of Sweden’s capital Stockholm. Racist and fascist organizations and groups organized the protest where participants chanted slogans such as “Death for Armenian dogs.” Organizers using the clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan as an excuse for the protest and called for bloodshed in order to create animosity among peoples.

Federation of Sweden-Turkish Workers Associations, Azeri Federation, Sweden Azeris Union, Uygur Teachers Association, Grey Wolves, Sweden-Europe Democrats Union, National Vision Organization, Homeland Party and Kemalist Thought Association participated in the protest and chanted slogans such as “Death for Armenian dogs”, “May Grey Wolves howl and Allah protect Turks”, “Martyrs don’t die, homeland doesn’t get divided.”

Federation of Sweden-Turkish Workers Associations Vice President Barbaros Leylani spoke during the protest and encouraged the protestors to use violence against Armenians. Kurdish youth translated the speech to English and posted it on social media, and the video was broadcast by Sweden’s biggest TV channel TV4 as well as Sweden News Agency after disseminating on social media. The racist protest and Leylani’s speech stirred up debate in Swedish society and forced Leylani to resign. Commentators expect the Swedish state aid to the Federation of Sweden-Turkish Workers Associations to be cut since state officials held a meeting with representatives from the association soon after the protest.