2022 Moscow rally

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2022 Moscow rally
LuzhnikiStadium.jpg
Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, the site of the rally
Native name Zа мир без нацизма
English nameFor a world without Nazism
Date18 March 2022 (2022-03-18)
VenueLuzhniki Stadium
LocationMoscow, Russia
Coordinates55°42′56″N 37°33′13″E / 55.71556°N 37.55361°E / 55.71556; 37.55361Coordinates: 55°42′56″N 37°33′13″E / 55.71556°N 37.55361°E / 55.71556; 37.55361
TypePolitical rally and concert
Organised byVladimir Putin
Participants>200,000

For a world without Nazism (Russian: Zа мир без нацизма) was a political rally and concert at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on 18 March 2022, which marked the eighth anniversary of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. President Vladimir Putin spoke at the event, justifying the Russian invasion of Ukraine and praising Russian troops,[1] to a crowd of 200,000 people, per Moscow City Police.[2] Outlets including the BBC and the Moscow Times reported that state employees were transported to the venue, and other attendees were paid or forced to attend.[3]

Event[edit]

The arena and stage featured slogans reading "For a world without Nazism",[a] "For our president",[b] and "For Russia",[c] but featuring the Latin Z character in place of the usual Cyrillic З.[4] Some signs also featured Saint George's ribbon-styled Z's with the hashtag #СвоихНеБросаем,[5] meaning "we don't abandon our own".[6]

Concert and initial speakers[edit]

Former Eurovision contestant Polina Gagarina performed her cover of "Kukushka" from the 2015 film Battle for Sevastopol.[7] Russian band Lyube played,[8] Oleg Gazmanov performed the song "Born in the U.S.S.R.",[d][10][11] and Fyodor Tyutchev's May 1867 poem "Напрасный труд — нет, их не вразумишь..."[e][14] was read by Russian actor Vladimir Mashkov.[4] Other speakers at the event included RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, who said, "This is for our boys who are fighting scum right now";[15] Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin, who thanked "the guys who with weapons in their hands defend Russian citizens in the Donbas ... Half the world has united against us, but Russia is a strong country";[16] and Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maria Zakharova, who called Russia "a country and nation that safeguards peace and fights evil".[15][17] Many of the speakers wore Z-shaped Saint George's ribbons,[3] which also appeared on signs in the crowd.[15]

Putin's speech[edit]

The rally marked Russian President Vladimir Putin's first public appearance since the start of the invasion of Ukraine.[2] In his speech, which he opened by quoting the Constitution of Russia, Putin congratulated the "people of Crimea and Sevastopol" and wished them a "happy anniversary" of the annexation of Crimea. He went on to discuss those areas' finances and infrastructure, claiming that instead of Ukraine's "leftover financing" provided, Russia "needed to drag Crimea out of that humiliating position". Putin further alleged a "genocide" by Ukraine against the people of Donbass, before quoting the Bible's "no greater love" passage from John 15. Finally, Putin noted that Fyodor Ushakov's birthday was 24 February, the same date that the invasion of Ukraine was launched in 2022.[18] Part of his televised speech on Russia-24 was interrupted by a technical problem.[19][20]

Reaction[edit]

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a video message released on 19 March, mentioned the rally:[21]

Many words were heard in Moscow today in connection with the anniversary of the seizure of Crimea. A big rally took place. And I want to pay attention to one detail. It is reported that a total of about 200,000 people were involved in the rally in the Russian capital. 100,000 on the streets, about 95,000 at the stadium. Approximately the same number of Russian troops were involved in the invasion of Ukraine. Just imagine 14,000 corpses and tens of thousands of wounded and maimed people at that stadium in Moscow. There are already so many Russian losses as a result of this invasion. This is the price of war. In a little more than three weeks. The war must end.[21]

Putin received criticism for wearing what appeared to be a US$13,000 Loro Piana parka.[3]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "Zа мир без нацизма"; usually written "За мир без нацизма".
  2. ^ "Zа Президента"; usually written "За Президента".
  3. ^ "Zа Россию"; usually written "За Россию".
  4. ^ The opening of the song reads: "The Ukraine and the Crimea, Belarus and Moldova, this is my country! ... Kazakhstan and the Caucasus, and the Baltics too."[9]
  5. ^ Напрасный труд — нет, их не вразумишь,—
    Чем либеральней, тем они пошлее,
    Цивилизация — для них фетиш,
    Но недоступна им ее идея.

    Как перед ней ни гнитесь, господа,
    Вам не снискать признанья от Европы:
    В ее глазах вы будете всегда
    Не слуги просвещенья, а холопы.[12]

    It's no use — you will not understand them —
    The more liberal the more base and cruel.
    Civilization for them is a fetish,
    But inaccessible to them is its ideal.

    Though you may bow before it, citizens,
    You will never win Europe's recognition:
    In its eyes you will always be not servants
    Of Enlightenment but slaves without rights.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Putin holds rally in Moscow, praises Russian troops as Ukraine fights back invasion". CBC News. 18 March 2022. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b Nechepurenko, Ivan (18 March 2022). "Putin makes his first public appearance since the invasion of Ukraine". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Putin Marks Crimea Anniversary, Defends 'Special Operation' in Ukraine in Stadium Rally". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Putin Tells Mass Rally That Russia Will Prevail in Ukraine". VOA News. Reuters. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  5. ^ Patel-Carstairs, Sunita (19 March 2022). "Putin hails 'special operation' in Ukraine at massive celebration party for 'reunification' of Crimea". Sky News. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  6. ^ MacFarquhar, Nick (7 March 2022). "The letter 'Z' has become a symbol for Russians who support the invasion of Ukraine". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  7. ^ Chibowska, Karolina (19 March 2022). "Polina Gagarina w ogniu krytyki. Po tym, jak zaśpiewała dla Putina, nie zostawiono na niej suchej nitki" (in Polish). Onet Kobieta. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  8. ^ Reuters (18 March 2022). "Putin tries to rally Russia behind invasion but TV glitch hinders address". The Irish Times. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  9. ^ Pomerantsev, Peter (19 December 2013). "Born in the USSR". London Review of Books. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  10. ^ Reimann, Nicholas. "Putin Holds Massive Pro-War Rally In Moscow". Forbes. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  11. ^ Anna, Cara (18 March 2022). "Putin appears at big rally as troops press attack in Ukraine". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Напрасный труд — нет, их не вразумишь..." Русская поэзия. Monster. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  13. ^ Cigale, Alex. "Anthology of Russian Minimalist and Miniature Poems; Part I, The Silver Age". Off Course: A Literary Journey. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  14. ^ Tuytchev, Fyodor (1996). Избранное (in Russian). Rostov-on-Don: Феникс. ISBN 5-85880-081-5.
  15. ^ a b c AFP (18 March 2022). "Moscow marks Crimea annexation with patriotic rally". France24. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  16. ^ "Putin praises unity at Moscow rally to support Ukraine invasion". Le Prensa Latina. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  17. ^ Vernon, Will (18 March 2022). "Putin hails Crimea annexation and war with lessons on heroism". BBC News. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  18. ^ "Concert marking the anniversary of Crimea's reunification with Russia". Kremlin. 18 March 2022. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  19. ^ "Putin vows Russia will prevail in Ukraine but glitch hinders TV". Reuters. 18 March 2022. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  20. ^ Vasilyeva, Nataliya (18 March 2022). "Russian TV cuts off Vladimir Putin mid-speech during major Moscow rally". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  21. ^ a b Zelenskyy, Volodymyr (19 March 2022). "Meaningful talks on peace and security for Ukraine are the only chance for Russia to reduce the damage from its own mistakes". President of Ukraine. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
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