Victory Day is one of the main holidays in Russia. Every year, at the parade on Red Square, together with veterans of the Great Patriotic War High-ranking politicians from other countries are watching. “360” tells who will come to the Victory Parade this year and who was the guest of honor at the celebrations of past years.
More than just a visit
Several years ago, Russia abandoned the practice of inviting foreign leaders to celebrate Victory Day. But if desired, any of them can take part in the celebrations. Exceptions are anniversaries: in this case, all prominent world politicians receive an offer for the celebration.
This year, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will come to Moscow. The visit of the heads of these states is not only secular in nature. Vucic plans to discuss with Vladimir Putin issues of his country’s relations with Russia. Netanyahu is going to talk about the Iran nuclear deal, which was in jeopardy due to US intentions to withdraw from it.
In 2017, the only foreign president to attend the parade in Moscow was Moldova's President Igor Dodon. His visit was significant: it was the first visit of a Moldovan politician of this level to Moscow on Victory Day in 15 years. It is unknown whether Dodon will come to the holiday this year.
One of the regular guests of the events dedicated to May 9 is the President of Kazakhstan. Nursultan Nazarbayev participated in the holiday for three years. In the politician’s homeland, the parade in honor of Victory Day was abandoned in 2016. It is also unknown whether the leader of Kazakhstan will come this year.
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has not appeared at the Victory Parade in Moscow for three years. He is taking part in a similar event in his country. No one can replace Lukashenko in Minsk, because only the commander-in-chief has the right to host the parade.
Anniversary parades
Photo source: RIA Novosti
Most foreign guests visited Moscow during the celebrations of the Victory anniversaries. It was especially crowded in 1995. The UN Secretary General and the leaders of France, the USA and Germany came to the first anniversary of Victory in the modern history of Russia. The event was attended by Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze. In total, about 60 prominent political figures gathered.
In 2005, Russia celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Victory. Seats on the podium were taken by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, French President Jacques Chirac, US President George W. Bush and German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
George Bush with his wife and Vladimir Putin. RIA Novosti/Sergey Pyatakov
A group of Wehrmacht veterans arrived with the German politician. After the parade ended, Vladimir Putin spoke with them personally. Then the delegation from Germany visited the Lublin cemetery - the burial place of the remains of Germans who were captured by the USSR.
Traditionally, the leaders of Latvia and Estonia refused the invitation to come to Moscow on Victory Day.
Photo source: RIA Novosti/Alexey Druzhinin
In 2015, the parade in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Victory was observed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, general manager UNESCO Irina Bokova and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK Kim Yong Nam, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Cuban leader Raul Castro were also present at the celebrations. Among those who accepted the invitation were leaders of the CIS countries, Latin America and Asia.
Nicolas Maduro and Raul Castro. RIA Novosti/Konstantin Chalabov
Members of the European Union were represented only by Cyprus. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to come. But this year the politician will visit Moscow.
Why does the head of the Ministry of Defense have a new collar?
Attentive participants, guests of the parade, and television viewers probably noticed the updated uniform of the Russian Minister of Defense, Army General Sergei Shoigu, and some other senior officers. Or rather, on the style of the collar of their ceremonial jackets. Unlike last year's turn-down collar, this time the uniforms had a stand-up collar. This is an almost exact copy of the classic jacket of senior officers of the Great Patriotic War (just look at the portraits of the marshals of the Soviet Union, the commanders of the Victory, in particular, Georgy Zhukov).
Whose initiative is this?
It has long been no secret to anyone that the current Minister of Defense, along with bold reform innovations, also takes care of military history, and to preserve the continuity of army traditions. Including military uniform. New-style tunics were specially sewn for the Victory Parade according to a special order from the Ministry of Defense
Is there a lot new form sewn?
For now they are sewn in small quantities. In fact, it was the “premiere” of a new model military uniform(more precisely, one of her important elements). In other garrisons where the holiday was held with the participation of the military, the “Stalinist stand” (as tailors once called a closed collar with braid) was not seen on the generals’ uniforms. So we can talk about its Moscow premiere. Who knows, maybe on the new uniform of Army General Sergei Shoigu, along with the “marshal’s” stand-up collar, marshal’s stars will appear?
Why was the aerial part of the parade cancelled?
The Victory Parade in 2017 on May 9 was held on Red Square, as always, successfully, and even the cold weather did not stop people who came to see not only all the splendor, but also to honor the memory of the veterans. However, I wonder why they didn’t show the common people. Is it really possible that no one was allowed into Red Square except special people? Our president, V.V. Putin, also did not go unnoticed this time. Many were interested in the fact that those standing next to him were not members of the government, in particular Dmitry Medvedev.
So who stood next to V.V. Putin at the 2017 Victory Parade on May 9?
If you look on the right hand, you can see a respectable tall, gray-haired man who looks to be about 40 years old. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev himself stood not next to, but much further from the Guarantor of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
The tall man is none other than the President of Moldova and his name is Igor Dodon. Another question arises: where are the other heads of government? Igor Dodon arrived specifically in Moscow on this day to honor the memory of the veterans who liberated Moldova during the Second World War, when it was part of the Soviet Union.
Dodon stood next to Putin because he was an invited and important guest. It would simply be rude to put it somewhere aside. He was the only president of another state who came specially to us for May 9 and the parade. The head of Moldova was not alone in Moscow, but together with his wife and one of his sons. After the Parade, Dodon went with Putin to pay tribute to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
I just watched the parade in Moscow. Putin, in his ceremonial speech, lamented that the norms of international law adopted after the Second World War are being violated, and of course, in Putin’s opinion, a sign of a violation of international law is bloc thinking.
It follows from this that the CSTO is also a symbol of these same violations of international law and, of course, such a norm. Putin did not mean the inviolability of borders.
But the most interesting thing happened before the start of the parade: Channel One, ORT, I don’t know his name, the journalist, this is one young journalist, he broadcast live from Red Square, and managed to make several blunders, which, however, no longer surprise anyone.
This journalist said that the President of Uzbekistan I. Karimov will be at the parade, while yesterday, on May 8, Uzbek television channels showed how the head of Uzbekistan returned to Tashkent. Finally, the famous “Guberniev effect” worked, when he appeared in the company of V. Putin, the President of Turkmenistan G. Berdymukhammedov was called... President of Tajikistan E. Rahmon. Again!! In general, it’s on the tip of your tongue - you keep repeating about Soviet Union, repeat 24 hours a day, but you still don’t know what ethnic groups lived in this very Soviet Union and how these ethnic groups differed from each other!
Another untruth was the announcer’s statement that “Uzbek TV channels broadcast from the parade”; this is not true; the parade was broadcast live, as always, by Russian TV channels broadcasting in our region.
Finally, many who expected all of Africa to attend the parade were deceived. Of the leaders of 55 African states, only three arrived at the parade, the President of Egypt Al Sisi, the President of South Africa Jake Zuma and himself, “Uncle Crocodile” President of Zimbabwe R. G. Mugabe and that’s it! The rest of the Africans didn't come! The remaining 52 leaders with whom we were so “scared”.
From Latin American countries, out of 33 states, only two came, the presidents of Venezuela and Cuba. Of the EU member countries, only the presidents of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Cyprus.
Of the Asian countries, excluding the Asian CIS countries, there was only the Chairman of the People's Republic of China, whom all Russian journalists, of course, know, the power of Siberia and, in general, everything Russian Far East you need to know in person! And also the presidents of Mongolia, Vietnam, India.
There were no others. From the countries of the Arab world there were only two, PA Leader Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Al Sisi, the leaders of the remaining 20 countries of the Arab world did not come to the parade in Moscow, and the leaders of Israel and Turkey were also not in Moscow.
A. Lukashenko did not come and his soldiers did not march at the parade in Moscow.
As expected, there was no one from our Uzbekistan, neither the President nor our soldiers! Therefore, the topic of Uzbek participation in the May 9 parade in Moscow can be considered closed.
But the main “wedding general” at the celebration was the leader of China, President Xi Jinping. Russia’s older brother China, and this is obvious to everyone.
Vladimir Putin succeeded in something that no one else has ever succeeded in: Victory Day has become a marginal holiday, not to mention the vulgarization of this day with all kinds of ribbons and other tinsel that has nothing to do with the events of 70 years ago.
Finally, the list of guests showed the level of Russian influence in the world, two or three leaders from different continents and regions of the world - this is “Russia’s growing influence in the world.”
Original taken from ledy_lisichka
at the 2017 Parade in Moscow: notes in the margins
Traditional analysis of the ritual and organizational components of the 2017 Victory Parade on Red Square.
This is a post-Soviet parade №24
(since 1995). 
Arctic parade with Arctic equipment and the same temperature (photo kp.ru)
1. This time the guest of the parade is the President of Moldova I. Dodon. Then Dm follows Putin. Medvedev. The clothes are warm, almost everyone is wearing coats and jackets. Putin is also not wearing a jacket, as usual, but a coat. Cloudy and gloomy, no sun and +2 degrees. Rain drops periodically appear on the cameras. Coldest year since 1978.
2. The mausoleum is camouflaged. Russia-1 broadcasts, incl. and from the Spasskaya Tower, from where the closing superstructure and its structure from the inside are clearly visible.
3. Ceremony of bringing in the flags - the State Flag of the Russian Federation first, the Victory Banner second. The exception was in the anniversary year of 2015, when the Victory Banner was brought in first. The Znamenny group comes out to the music “Get up, huge country, get up for mortal combat!”
4. This is the fifth parade of Minister S.K. Shoigu. The parade is commanded by Colonel General Oleg Salyukov, Commander of the Ground Forces - for the third time. Shoigu traditionally makes the sign of the cross in his car when leaving the Spasskaya Tower.
5. The dress uniform has changed! The officers have stand-up collars and “coil” buttonholes, like under late Stalin. The uniform with ties has disappeared. Unusual:) Shoigu has a large cruciform order with a coat of arms in the central place.
6. Oh, Putin took off his coat before Shoigu’s report! Now wearing a jacket, enduring the drizzle. All those present at the podium have St. George ribbons pinned to their chests.
7. Putin's speech: The Soviet Union is mentioned at the beginning as the leading force of resistance to Nazi Germany. Reads a speech from a piece of paper with large letters. The phrase " Russian, Russian soldier." Congratulations on "Victory Day" in conclusion, without the prefix "Soviet people" and "great".
8. Pseudo-generals and fake heroes in the stands: not directly noticed. If anyone notices something suspicious, be sure to write in the comments.
9. The parade is opened by young students of the music school with white drums. From the Suvorov students there are guys from the Tver SVU, then the Nakhimov students from St. Petersburg. Let me remind you that during the time of Serdyukov (late 2000s), Suvorov soldiers at the parade were canceled.
10. The Youth Army column (this is something like the Soviet DOSAAF, apparently?) - something new. In sand uniform and red berets.
Young Army members (photo kp.ru)
11. For the first time at the parade - the Kirkenes Marine Brigade of the Northern Fleet, as a symbol of Russia’s Arctic presence.
12. The second time there is a large column of only women- Military Institute of Logistics in Volsk, from the Military Academy named after. Khruleva. But this time they added second a female column from the Mozhaisky Academy, in blue dress uniform with “coils”.
13. Putin and guests of the main stand in front of passing troops are worth. The shameful precedent of the “sit-in” Medvedev parade of 2010 and the reaction to it from society have been learned.
14. Soviet banners have been preserved as a duplicate of modern ones; they are also carried in their heads, respectively. columns They didn't remove it.
Soviet banners in columns (photo kp.ru)
15. Border guards, sailors, etc. they come without “reels” - apparently, the new parade is valid only for the ground forces of the RF Armed Forces.
15a. This time, when passing the column, the VKS did not play “Higher, and higher, and higher...”
16. The calculation of the National Guard of Russia (formerly the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs) in the new status is taking place for the second time. The name of F. Dzerzhinsky is retained in the division's title. The title of the division named after Yu. Andropov (coming a little later) is also retained.
17. The Cossacks were not noticed among the columns, for the second year in a row - the Aksai Corps was pushed back. There are no horsemen as exotics either.
18. Medvedev stands fourth to the right of Putin on the main podium. Next to the Russian President are a Moldovan and military personnel. This time, young cadets were not assigned to them “to brighten up the picture.”
19. Was Mikhail Gorbachev seen in the stands? IN last year was. Write if anyone noticed it.
20. It is curious that the country’s leaders continue to stand while the equipment passes. Last year (2016) we sat down and watched this part of the parade while sitting. During Soviet times, leaders also stood at the Mausoleum all the time. But before the aircraft fly over, everyone sits down.
21. “Almaty” T-14s are participating in the parade for the third time. Then come artillery systems in increasing calibers and then air defense missiles.
22. For the first time at the parade - Arctic troops in white camouflage, with polar bears on the bodies of vehicles. See also paragraph 12. As a symbol of increased attention specifically to the Arctic.
23. Emblems on vehicles are uniform. An “empty” star with a red border, placed on top of the St. George ribbon. And new: orders of units directly on the body.
24. From the Strategic Missile Forces come the Yars (also a new generation, later the Topol). Then the new Boomerang armored personnel carriers arrive, and the passage of equipment is completed.
25. Then the orchestra sings a cappella “We are the army of the country, we are the army of the people” and leaves the square to “Farewell of the Slav”. Everyone gets up. Putin says goodbye to veterans on the podium; all this is shown very briefly and little.
26. There is no air parade. . Canceled due to cloudy and unusually cold weather.
27. After the parade, Putin (in a black cloak) greets all the commanders of the parade columns and shakes their hands (without Medvedev). The Youth Army commander in a red beret looks very unusual. Two women are the leaders of the columns. Shoigu follows him and also shakes hands with everyone. It's raining, there are drops on the cameras.
28. But the broadcast is not interrupted. They immediately show the ceremony of laying wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In the first row are Putin and Dodon.
PS. HD version of the parade.
