Kremlin revokes foreign media invitations to Moscow parade – Spiegel

The Kremlin has reportedly withdrawn accreditation for foreign media journalists to attend the Victory Day parade in Moscow, which will take place without military equipment. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 – ed.]

Source: German newspaper Der Spiegel

Details: The newspaper reports that the Kremlin revoked Der Spiegel's accreditation for the parade by phone. The Kremlin also contacted other foreign media outlets to refuse their accreditation, including ARD, ZDF, Sky, AFP and Italian and Japanese broadcasters Rai and NHK.

A Kremlin official told Spiegel: "The format of the parade coverage has been changed due to the situation. Therefore, foreign media that had already received accreditation will no longer be admitted." No further details regarding the cancellation were provided.

Other foreign media outlets received the response: "Only Russian media outlets will be admitted."

"This is the first instance in the history of the 9 May parade where foreign media outlets initially received accreditation from the Kremlin but had it subsequently withdrawn," Der Spiegel notes.

Background:

• On 28 April, Russia's Ministry of Defence stated that the 9 May parade in Moscow will take place without military equipment and without the participation of military academy cadets due to the "current situation".
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the parade marking 9 May in Moscow will take place in a "reduced format" due to a terrorist threat and also because the date is not an anniversary. The parade in St Petersburg will also take place without military equipment.

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