Festive parade in honor of 68th anniversary of Victory held in Liberty Square

(KZN.RU, May 9, by Alisa Rozanova) A ceremonial parade in honor of the 68th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War was held in Liberty Square this morning. The event was attended by President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin greeted the veterans and guests of the parade, who took pride of place in front of the concert stage. A live broadcast was carried from Red Square in Moscow.

President Minnikhanov greeted the parade participants, veterans and home front workers. He stressed that the day when the victory banner was raised over the Reichstag will go down in history as a day of celebration and a day of mourning. The parade participants honored the memory of those who died during the Great Patriotic War with a moment of silence.

Troops of the Kazan military garrison, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Tatarstan, as well as veterans who fought in Afghanistan and Chechnya and Kazan students solemnly marched through the square. The march ended with the song "Victory Day", performed by the combined orchestra of the Kazan garrison.

The festivities continued in Victory Park and ended with a traditional fireworks display.