Putin Schedules Russian Victory Day Parade for June
May 26 2020 - 1:51PM
Dow Jones News
By Georgi Kantchev
MOSCOW -- Under pressure over his handling of the coronavirus
pandemic and Russia's faltering economy, President Vladimir Putin
said the country would hold its showcase annual Victory Day
military parade next month.
The parade, a potent symbol of state power in Russia, has
additional significance this year as it marks the 75th anniversary
of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. It was postponed in
May as part of a series of measures to contain the spread of the
pandemic, which has seen Russia rise up the ranks of worst-affected
nations behind the U.S. and Brazil. It has registered more than
360,000 confirmed cases and an official death toll of 3,807.
"We'll do this on June 24, on the day when the legendary
historic parade of victors was held in 1945," Mr. Putin said
Tuesday during a videoconference with his defense minister Sergei
Shoigu, ordering him to begin preparations.
The pandemic also forced Mr. Putin, who has been in power for
more than two decades, to postpone a referendum planned for April
on constitutional changes that could pave the way for him to remain
in the Kremlin until 2036. A new date has yet to be set for the
vote, which would be the final hurdle Mr. Putin must clear before
he is able run for the presidency again once his current term, his
fourth, ends in four years. Russia's parliament and constitutional
court have already approved the changes, which Mr. Putin endorsed
in March.
The Victory Day parade, if it goes ahead is scheduled, could
help Mr. Putin regain political momentum. The celebration of the
Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany, typically observed on May 9, is
considered the nation's most important holiday and the single event
that unites the majority of Russians. An estimated 26 million
Soviet citizens perished during the Great Patriotic War, as World
War II is commonly known in Russia.
Over the years, the Russian president has tried to harness the
wave of patriotism connected to the suffering and pride of eventual
victory in the war, according to analysts. The Russian president,
who worked remotely from his residence outside Moscow for the past
several weeks, could benefit from a boost right now, they say.
Struck by a double blow of low oil prices and
coronavirus-induced lockdowns, the Russian economy is on the brink
of a deep recession. Russians, who have been under a partial
lockdown since March 30, have been growing increasingly restless
and discontent over promised assistance from the state, which they
say isn't enough.
Russia, dependent on oil revenues for a third of its state
budget, finds itself poorly equipped to offer the sort of economic
support programs provided in the West. The ruble plummeted against
the dollar this year and unemployment has doubled to 1.4 million
since early April.
The situation has dented Mr. Putin's approval rating, which slid
to 59%, according to the independent Moscow pollster, Levada -- his
lowest since he became president in 2000. The Kremlin has dismissed
the poll, arguing that there are other polls that use different
methods of counting and provide different outcomes.
The postponed Victory Day parade, which world leaders such as
China's Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron of France were expected to
attend, was intended to showcase Russia's increased global
influence under Mr. Putin, who has been ostracized by the U.S.
Washington has slapped Russia with sanctions for transgressions
such as annexing Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and
interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Instead of hosting what was intended to be Russia's biggest-ever
Victory Day parade, including thousands of troops and hundreds of
tanks and aircraft exhibited across Moscow's Red Square, this
year's May 9 celebrations were muted. Mr. Putin walked alone to lay
flowers at the Eternal Flame memorial outside the red brick walls
of the Kremlin as Russian television showed images of an empty Red
Square during an overcast, rainy morning.
Write to Georgi Kantchev at georgi.kantchev@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 26, 2020 13:36 ET (17:36 GMT)
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