He has accused the United States of putting pressure on allies not to attend the parade and accused Russia's "enemies" of rewriting history to play down the significance of Moscow's role in defeating Nazi Germany. Putin has not only whipped up patriotism as the anniversary approaches, but has used the boycott to fan the anti-Western sentiment that has helped unite people behind him and distract them from their economic problems. The Western boycott is intended to show displeasure over President Vladimir Putin's support for pro-Russian separatists fighting government forces in eastern Ukraine.īut many Russians see the snub as disrespect for their country's heavy wartime losses, intended to undermine the significance of Moscow's role in winning the war. "It is of course not nice," Lisitsyn said quietly, before adding with a shrug: "They have the right to do so." He is less enthusiastic when asked about plans by Western leaders not to attend a military parade on Moscow's Red Square on May 9 marking the 70th anniversary of the victory in 1945. Any soldier, any soldier was swung in their arms, people sang to them: 'You guys are great!'" "Everyone went, intuitively, to Red Square, to the center. It was such an all-embracing joy, when people poured on to the streets with bottles, with songs, half-drunk," the 86-year-old retiree said in his apartment on the outskirts of the Russian capital. He was too young to fight but, like most Russians, sees the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 as one of his nation's great achievements, albeit as part of the Soviet Union.
"I think that Putin's propaganda is going to describe it as an affront and humiliation, which was inflicted by the West, by the foreigners, on the Russians on this sacred holiday," he says.One of Boris Lisitsyn's happiest memories is of being swept by a huge, joyous crowd through the streets of Moscow and onto Red Square in spontaneous celebrations when World War II ended in Europe. Most Western leaders, including President Obama, will be absent, unwilling to take part because of Russia's seizure of Crimea last year and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.Īnalyst Konstantin von Eggert, a commentator and host on Kommersant Radio in Moscow, says the absences will be noticed. The Kremlin is predicting that fewer than 30 will watch the parade with him this year. Bush, stood with Putin to mark the 60th anniversary. Ten years ago, 53 heads of state, including President George W.
The centerpiece will be a giant military parade just outside the Kremlin walls in Red Square, where more than 16,000 troops will pass in review before President Vladimir Putin, VIPs and foreign leaders.īut the reviewing stand will have a lot fewer foreign dignitaries than it has had in the past. Victory Day, which commemorates the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, is the biggest annual celebration in Russia, and Saturday's event marking the 70th anniversary will be among the largest ever held. Russian military personnel march in Moscow's Red Square during a rehearsal Thursday for the Victory Day military parade that will take place Saturday to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
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