Lukashenko will not stay in Moscow for the Victory Parade – RBC

The President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko during the celebration of Victory Day in Minsk last year

Photo: TASS

According to Lukashenko, he plans to take part in the celebrations in Moscow to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War on May 7-8. “May 9th I will be in Minsk, we have such a Victory Day parade, in Moscow. It is unacceptable when there is no chief. No one but him, the constitution will not be able to take hits, “- the words of the Belarusian president TASS.

However, Lukashenka said he did not support” the politicians who refuse to come to the ambitious celebration in Moscow, although I like have promised. ” According to him, if the leaders of Western countries refuse to come to Moscow “in terms of attacks against Russia, against the Soviet people and the peoples of Eastern Europe, we were released, and it is an attack against them, not only against the Russians who allegedly fighting in the Donbas captured Ukraine ».

In early March, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said that Lukashenko has given prior consent to participate in the Victory Parade in Moscow. Prior consent to attend the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the victory also gave the leaders of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan Nursultan Nazarbayev and Emomali Rahmon. About his intention to visit Moscow on May 9, said Czech President Milos Zeman, but at the Victory Parade, he will not be present.

Earlier, his refusal to visit the Victory Parade said British Prime Minister David Cameron, US President Barack Obama, Chancellor Angela Merkel, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. French President Francois Hollande has not yet given a definitive answer about his presence at the celebrations in Moscow.

In mid-March, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that “the leaders confirmed their participation 26 foreign countries, as well as the head of UNESCO and Council of Europe. ” All invitations to the celebrations were sent to heads of 68 foreign countries.

As previously reported in the Defense Ministry, the parade in Moscow to mark the 70th anniversary of the Victory will be the largest in Russia’s recent history. In March, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the number of columns on foot Victory Day parade on Red Square will be more than 15 thousand. People (50% more than it was in the previous anniversary parade in 2010). As part of the mechanized column will be used 194 pieces of military equipment.