Russia has staged a big military parade to mark the 76th anniversary of its victory over Nazi Germany. President Rahmon of Tajikistan was the only foreign leader to join Putin at the parade, TASS reports.
Tajik president Emomali Rahmon was the only foreign leader who came to Moscow to attend Victory Day ceremonies on May 9 to mark the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II. Russia and many other former Soviet countries commemorate the May 9 anniversary with parades and celebrations. Rahmon, who has ruled Tajikistan with an iron since 1992, maintains close relations with Moscow.
The parade came amid rising tensions with the United States and other NATO member states over a host of issues, including alleged Kremlin cyberhacking and Russia’s military build-up on Ukraine’s borders. Therefore, President Putin pledged that Russia would defend its national interests “firmly” as he oversaw a military parade in Red Square.
This year, Russia’s Victory Parade on Moscow’s Red Square involved over 12,000 troops, about 190 items of military and special hardware and 76 aircraft and helicopters.