The international action "Immortal Regiment" was held today in Italy, the USA, Canada, Australia, and other states. More and more people take part in it every year and they're not only from Russia.
Ruslan Sleptsov has the details.
The Immortal Regiment marches around the world. More and more participants take part in the action in different countries every year. A mass procession took place in Washington. About 1,000 people with photos of their relatives proceded from the White House to the WWII monument. They sang Katyusha and Smuglyanka and took care of their costumes. Many wore the military uniform of that time. They honored the victims with one minute of silence at the monument. Later, on the America capital's central boulevard, songs about victory were performed by the Turetsky Choir and the art group Soprano.
They also gave a concert at the UN headquarters. Permanent Representative of Russia Vasily Nebenzya joined the singers. The project "Songs of Victory" was launched four years ago. Russian singers have already visited dozens of countries with it.
In New York, where the Immortal Regiment was held for the fifth time, there was a record number of participants — over 2,000 people. Among those who came were not only our compatriots but also Americans. They launched dozens of white balloons in memory of those who didn't return from the battlefield.
Rome became one of the first cities in Europe where the action was held. The participants of the march, holding Russian flags, red banners, and photos of their relatives, marched along the center of Rome to the march of Farewell of Slavianka. According to organizers, Italians support the movement.
The Immortal Regiment is also held in the capital of Spain. Over 1,000 people marched along the central streets of Madrid. The Spanish also joined the march. Before the march began, volunteers gave away St.George ribbons to passers-by. At the end of the procession, its participants performed the song Den Pobedy.
In Cologne, after the march, there was a memorial service for the victims. Participants laid wreaths and flowers on the graves of the soldiers that were killed.
The action began in Turkey. There were marches in Ankara, Istanbul, and other cities in the country.
There were two marches in Australia. In Sydney, over 100 people marched along the center of the city and honored the memory of the victims with a minute of silence. In Melbourne, they treated participants with soldiers' food. Hong Kong joined the action for the first time. Almost 100 people took part in the event. Russian citizens, Russian-speaking emigrants, representatives of mixed families with their children, and Chinese citizens came to honor the memory of the front-line soldiers that were killed.
Earlier this week, the memory of all those who fought with the Nazis was honored in Switzerland, Argentina, Palestine, and Kuwait.
Ruslan Sleptsov, Ekaterina Shamaeva for Vesti.
