On May 9 Russia celebrated its main holiday, Victory Day – the anniversary of the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II. Victory Day has of course been celebrated since Soviet times, but upon taking power, Putin set out to revive the day’s significance, refashioning it to be a constant source of national pride for Russians. By focusing attention on the critical role played by the Soviet Union in WWII, Putin sought to get approval, by analogy, for his own efforts to raise the profile of modern Russia on the international stage. The massive military parades in Red Square, overseen by Putin and a coterie of visiting world leaders, were always meant to communicate both the military power and the political influence of Russia—and its proud president.
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Karina Orlova: Putin’s isolation on display at Victory Day
Russian President Vladimir Putin carries a portrait of his father Vladimir Spiridonovich as he takes part in the Immortal Regiment march in central Moscow on May 9.
