OP-ED

Pavel Felgenhauer: Putin’s Russia reverts still deeper into Soviet legacy

By Pavel Felgenhauer.

Published May 14, 2021. Updated May 14 at 7:02 am

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) looks at Russian guards parading during the tribute ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin Wall to mark Defender of the Fatherland Day, in Moscow, on Feb. 23, 2021.

Photo by AFP

Under President Vladimir Putin’s rule, the annual May 9 grand military parade on Red Square in Moscow has transformed into the main ideological prop to legitimize his regime. Changes have already been made to the Russian constitution and additional legislation is being introduced making it a felony to publicly question or rewrite the official version of the events of World War II (Interfax, May 5).