JUST IN: Immersion in Saint Petersburg in the “Immortal Regiment”, a memorial march that has become a Kremlin propaganda tool
In breaking news, the following story has emerged from the international scene.
In the center of Saint Petersburg, the birthplace of President Vladimir Putin, some 100,000 people participated on Saturday May 9 in the “Immortal Regiment”, this citizen march of remembrance. Everyone parades with the portrait of one of their parents who died or were injured during the “Great Patriotic War” (the name given to the Second World War by the Russians). Last year, for comparison, according to official figures, this parade attracted 1.1 million participants in “the capital of the north” and a large naval base. This year’s crowd was therefore around ten times smaller. The event was placed under high security and there were numerous restrictions: for example, it was forbidden to watch the parade from the sidewalks. Spectators were kept away along the route. Access to adjacent streets was restricted until the end of the event. In Moscow, as in most cities across Russia, the “Immortal Regiment” did not take place. No official reason was given. But in recent weeks, Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory have been incessant, including on the capital. Until the last moment, they also threatened to disrupt the military parade on Red Square. Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers For Vladimir Putin, a lackluster parade to celebrate the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany Read later Over the years, the “Immortal Regiment” has become one of the key elements of the Kremlin’s propaganda to involve the population in the culture of remembrance of the “Great Patriotic War” (the name given to the Second World War by the Russians). You have 73.94% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
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Source: This article was originally published in another language by International : Toute l’actualité sur Le Monde.fr. and has been translated and adapted for our global English-speaking audience. Read the original article here.