Updated at 13:52,22-04-2024

No Russian March in Minsk on May 9

Euroradio

Russian fan club Russia Unites does not plan to organize a rally in Minsk on Victory Day when the world ice hockey championship kicks off on May 9.

The fan club president Eduard Latypov says he is not happy with media reports, suggesting that a so called Russian March was planned to be organized by Russian ice hockey fans in Minsk. Latypov says with regret that readers could have misunderstood it as a Russian nationalist rally carrying imperial flags and shouting "Glory to Russia" in the middle of Belarusian capital.

Russia Unites president stressed that there was an agreement with the Minsk authorities indeed for Russian fans to join the VIctory Day festivities organized by Belarus. Victory Day is a public holiday both in Belarus and Russia, so it is no surprising for Russians to take part in even associated with this day and organized by Belarusian authoirities, Latypov is quoted by Belapan news agency as saying.