Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Victory Parade in Moscow on May 9, 2021. ©
Tense Russia? Ahead of the May 9 military parade, there is moral support for Putin from the ex-Soviet bloc. His speech and all information in the news ticker.
- After the cancellation of the celebration on 9 May: "The nervousness is greater than ever before"
- Belarus support for Putin: Lukashenko comes to "Victory Day"
- This news ticker around May 9 in Russia is continuously updated.
Moscow – Russia celebrates victory over Nazi Germany on May 9; it is one of the most important days in the country – and yet not everyone in Russia is in the mood to celebrate. Derailed trains, burning fuel depots, cut power lines, plus the allegedly attempted drone attack on Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin: the latest series of alleged acts of sabotage and attacks on Russian territory has overshadowed Moscow's preparations for the "Victory Day" celebrations. Nevertheless, the preparations continued – the big military parade this Tuesday will take place. Putin is also said to be there.
After the cancellation of the celebration on 9 May: "The nervousness is greater than ever before"
Several cities near the Ukrainian border canceled events. They have been repeatedly subjected to drone attacks and shelling during the Ukraine war. There were also such cancellations elsewhere in Russia. Commenting on the celebrations in Moscow, Kremlin chief Dmitry Peskov said last week: "There are no changes to the plans."
Nevertheless, the Russian capital seems tense. The British Guardian quotes an insider from the Moscow mayor's office on the preparations for May 9: "The nervousness is greater than ever." But: "Victory Day must take place, there is no other option."
Belarus support for Putin: Lukashenko comes to "Victory Day"
The annual parade marking the end of World War II on Red Square is intended to demonstrate Russia's military strength – which is why it is of central importance to Putin. "Incidents are undesirable because they jeopardize the target of propaganda and weaken Muscovites' sense of security," Andrei Kolesnikov of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center think tank told AFP.
Putin is also interested in demonstrating power and unity. It is fitting that politicians from several successor states of the Soviet Union will be present at the celebrations in Moscow. This is reported by the Russian news agency Tass. They will lay flowers and have breakfast with Putin, it was said. Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko will also be there. He usually does not take part in the military parade because at the same time he is leading the celebrations in his own country in Minsk.
Members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
The ex-Soviet states of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Georgia and Ukraine are not included.
Since coming to power in 2000, Putin has promoted a patriotic cult built on the Soviet victory over the Nazis and designed to legitimize Putin as the heir to Soviet power. Currently, the holiday is particularly important, because it allows the president to once again implant his "simple but crazy idea in the public consciousness that his 'special operation' in Ukraine is a continuation" of the war against Hitler, Kolesnikov said. (as/AFP)
