Russia postpones key military parade due to outbreak

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday postponed a major military parade planned for next month due to concerns over the fast-spreading coronavirus.

The May 9 Victory Day parade, in Moscow's Red Square, would have celebrated the 75th anniversary of the then Soviet Union's victory in World War II.

"The risks associated with the epidemic, the peak of which has not passed, are still extremely high," Putin said in an online meeting of the National Security Council. "And this does not give me the right to begin preparations for the parade and other public events."

The number of coronavirus cases in Russia began rising sharply this month, although it had reported far fewer infections than many western European countries in the outbreak's early stages.

Russia confirmed 3,448 new cases on Thursday, a record daily rise that brought its nationwide tally to 27,938. Officials say 232 people have died.

'No choice'

The Kremlin had hoped to mark the landmark Word War II anniversary with particular pomp this year, including with an array of world leaders in attendance. But now there was no choice but to push back the event, Putin said in a televised statement.

Reports from Russian state news agency Tass said several war veteran organizations had appealed to Putin this week to postpone the parade, saying they wanted it to be a memorable and spectacular event, "something that looked unlikely with Moscow and many Russian regions observing a lockdown".

All of Russia's surviving World War II heroes are now over 90-years-old, and in the demographic most vulnerable to COVID-19, Russia's RT TV channel said.

Putin said that proceeding with the V-Day celebration under the current circumstances of coronavirus would be too great a risk to public health.

He said he had instructed Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the heads of security and law enforcement bodies and authorities at all levels to postpone preparations for the parade on Red Square, parades in the regions and all the massive public events planned for May 9.

While giving no new date for the V-Day celebrations, the president gave an assurance that they will take place this year.

In power as president or prime minister for more than two decades, Putin oversees the May 9 military parade every year from a tribune packed with war veterans.

Traditionally, Russia stages a bigger celebration for V-Day every five years and, with this year's 75th anniversary, it had sent invitations to many world leaders.

The heads of 17 countries, including India, France, Cuba, and Venezuela, had said they would attend this year, the Kremlin said in August last year.