Four anonymous sources have told the business newspaper RBC that after extensive speculation about the fate of Russia’s 75th-anniversary Victory Day parade, Vladimir Putin has ultimately decided to postpone the celebration to a later date.
Three of the sources are close to the Putin administration; one is familiar with Defense Department operations. If the information they provided to RBC journalists is correct, an announcement delaying the parade may be made later this week.
The alleged shift in Kremlin decision-making follows requests from multiple World War II veterans’ organizations to postpone the Victory Day parade. The event typically features veterans, who are now at a high risk for complications due to COVID-19, in a major role. Officials had previously resisted announcing changes to their 75th-anniversary plans, opting at first to avoid inviting guests over 65.
(C)MEDUZA 2020
Every day is May 9th in Moskovia anyway…
Does anyone really believe the Kremlin caved in to requests from veterans asking to cancel this parade? Me neither, Putin is just using this as an excuse to save his face, and make it look like these veterans are the ones who got it cancelled. As someone said on RT’s sister site 112, it will be a great photo opportunity for Putin. Now coronavirus is rampaging through Russia, not even the worst Putlerite would attend this PR stunt.