Russia Pledges To Go Ahead With Massive WWII Victory Day Parade On May 9

If the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to rise — prompting Moscow authorities to impose additional restrictions — the parade could be held without spectators. Andrei Nikerichev / Moskva News Agency

Business Insider: Russia has pledged to go ahead with a massive WWII memorial parade — which attracts crowds of more than 100,000 — despite its growing coronavirus outbreak

* Russia is to go ahead with its annual memorial military parade on May 9, despite the coronavirus outbreak.
* The event will see thousands of servicemen and women march together alongside tanks through Moscow to mark 75 years since the end of World War II.
* The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it had halted rehearsals but that the the main event will still happen. As many as 100,000 spectators attend the parade.
* Russia has reported 6,343 infections and 47 deaths as of Monday.
* Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Despite steadily mounting infections from the coronavirus in Russia, President Vladimir Putin has so far refused to cancel a massive parade celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Soviet triumph Nazi Germany.

The annual Victory Day parade on May 9 typically includes tens of thousands of troops, military equipment, and hundreds of thousands of spectators.

The event came under fire last week after social media footage showed thousands of re-enactors rehearsing for the event, despite a government ban on gatherings of more than 50 people.

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Update #1: Russia still planning to stage Victory Day parade in May (UPI)
Update #2: Russia Eyes Victory Day Parade With Empty Stands as Coronavirus Crisis Continues (Moscow Times)

WNU Editor: First things first. Business Insider says 100,000 people show up for this parade. Not really. The number is many times that, and at the end of the day there is the Immortals Regiment March where hundreds of thousands (if not a million) always show up. The organizers want Russian WWII veterans to stay away due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic .... Organizers want Russian WWII veterans who defeated Hitler to STAY AWAY from Victory Day parade over Covid-19 fears (RT). Good luck on that. I know a few of these veterans (they served with my father). They would rather be dead than miss this 75th anniversary parade.