I’ll drive you parking mad
David sleeps in his Ukraine-flag Tesla outside Putin’s Scots base
A cAr-lover has camped in his blue and yellow Tesla outside the russian consulate in edinburgh in protest at the russian invasion of Ukraine.
David Fraser has slept for seven days in his electric car, painted in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, in the city’s west end.
The dad of five’s Tesla Model 3 is embossed with the slogan “Free Ukraine” and he has spent the week playing Ukrainian tunes from its external speakers.
Speaking to the Record’s sister site Edinburgh Live, David said people were “bored” of Russia’s attempts to claw back the former Soviet nation, adding that he wanted to make a statement against the invasion.
He said: “Being here with a big message saying ‘Free Ukraine’ on the side of the car and people coming and going [in support], sends a message. The car also plays music from external speakers. I play Ukrainian music, and it also does light shows.”
The protest is also personal.
David’s relationship with Ukraine started back in 1997 when he travelled there with the Bethany Christian Trust to help people in dismal living conditions, and has continued to visit regularly. Since February 24, when Russia invaded, he says he’s been back over to Ukraine every four to six weeks, delivering cars to be used on the front line.
David said: “When the war started, I got involved with Cars For Ukraine – they supply vehicles for the military. We help convert cars from the UK into military vehicles.
“The men who are driving these cars are very brave and deserve our support. The cars [once they are over in Ukraine] only have a lifespan of about 10 days.”
David says the police have spoken to him twice in the week he has been camping out on Melville Street – but only to ask if he was “all good”.
David, who now lives in the Borders, said he didn’t know when he’d end his protest, adding: “I’m keeping costs down as much as I can and neighbours I know are letting me shower.”