Your trusted source

Moscow continues preparations for the arrival of foreign guests to attend the Victory Day parade on May 9. However, it will take into account the coronavirus situation, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday, according to TASS. 

"At the moment, we have no decisions or recommendations from the emergency response center or other competent authorities regarding any restrictions in terms of holding major events domestically and abroad," he said when asked whether there were plans to change the format of the Victory Day parade.

Peskov noted that "a large number of guests have been invited" to attend the parade "and have confirmed their participation." "There is no talk about cancelling or limiting this format, preparations continue for the arrival of delegations and resolving all logistics issues as well as military servicemen’s training for the parade," he stressed.

When asked how Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin’s decision to impose a ban on mass events in the Russian capital involving more than 5,000 people could affect the Victory Day parade, the Kremlin spokesman noted that the parade "is held outdoors." "We cannot say anything for sure so far, because the mayor’s decision is limited in time (effective until April 10 - TASS). Whether or not it will be extended, we cannot say now," he said.

"At the moment, there is no decision [on changing the format of the Victory Day parade], there are no grounds for raising the issue either. However, the situation has to be monitored carefully, and that’s what we are doing," he added.