Russian authorities papered over the the 100th anniversary of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution today, with just low-key events being held to mark an uprising that launched more than 70 years of Communist rule.
President Vladimir Putin, who has made ‘stability’ the keyword of his 17 years in power, would be treating the day as any other, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said previously.
Russian media had an ambiguous reaction to the centenary, with pro-Kremlin tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda asking on its front page: ‘Great celebration or big tragedy?’
Moscow will see a march and rally organised by the Communist Party – still the largest opposition party in parliament – to glorify the anniversary and soldiers took to the streets this morning as part of their rehearsals.
The event is to mark the anniversary of the November 7, 1941 parade which was when Soviet soldiers marched through the Red Square to the front lines of World War Two.
Russian soldiers in historical uniforms march during a military parade on the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, this morning
Russian servicemen dressed in historical uniforms with old rifles held across their chests take part in the military parade at Red Square in Moscow on November 7, 2017.Russia marks the 76th anniversary of the 1941 historical parade, when Red Army soldiers marched past the Kremlin walls towards the front line to fight Nazi Germany troops during World War Two
Russian performers push a huge, old cannon down through the streets of Moscow alongside others carrying huge spears
Russian servicemen dressed in World War Two-era uniforms for the Red Square Parade. In 1941, the parade marked the 24th anniversary of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution
Two performers on horseback dressed in historical combat gear send sparks flying into the air as their swords collide in Moscow
Dozens of Russian soldiers with red sashes draped across their chests above their uniforms march down the street in Moscow
Groups of soldiers with bayonets attached to their rifles stand in uniformed line with World War Two hats on their heads
Participants in period costume push a cannon during a military parade in Moscow’s Red Square
Three women wearing vintage World War Two clothing sit in an old car in Moscow which has a soft toy attached to the bonnet
Russian cadets, all in uniform, chant as they march through the streets of Moscow as part of the World War Two parade
Hundreds of participants march away from the Historical State Museum in Moscow’s Red Square. Russian authorities papered over the the 100th anniversary of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution today, with just low-key events being held to mark an uprising that launched more than 70 years of Communist rule
The party said its slogans will include ‘Lenin-Stalin-Victory!’ and ‘Let Lenin’s ideas live!’
But authorities have allowed just 5,000 participants for the afternoon rally beside a Karl Marx statue close to the Kremlin, the TASS state news agency reported.
Leftwing radical group The Other Russia, led by writer Eduard Limonov, is also set to hold an event in the capital.
Throughout the Soviet era, anniversaries of the revolution were marked with a public holiday which included pomp and military parades on Moscow’s Red Square.
Under Putin, November 7 became a regular working day in 2005.
This year there was again a parade on the square, but the event was to mark the 76th anniversary of a parade during World War II, rather than the centenary of the revolution.
The centenary is the last landmark event before a presidential election in March that Putin is widely expected to contest and win.
Russian soldiers hold up a flag as part of their preparation for the parade. President Vladimir Putin, who has made ‘stability’ the keyword of his 17 years in power, would be treating the day as any other, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said previously
Russian soldiers march through the streets in the uniforms they would have worn in snowy conditions during World War Two
Organisers of the parade, seen here, said slogans will include ‘Lenin-Stalin-Victory!’ and ‘Let Lenin’s ideas live!’ But authorities have allowed just 5,000 participants for the afternoon rally beside a Karl Marx statue close to the Kremlin, the TASS state news agency reported
Two Russian servicemen (right) dressed in historical uniforms talk on Red Square, with St Basil’s Cathedral seen in the background as a group (left) march through the square
Soldiers in helmets and rain coats. Throughout the Soviet era, anniversaries of the revolution were marked with a public holiday which included pomp and military parades on Moscow’s Red Square. Under Putin, November 7 became a regular working day in 2005
Rifle-holding soldiers stand to attention holding rifles. This year there was again a parade on the square, but the event was to mark the 76th anniversary of a parade during World War II, rather than the centenary of the revolution
A Russia serviceman dressed in historical uniform uses his mobile phone, appearing to smile for a selfie, as he waits before a military parade marking the anniversary of the 1941 parade, when Soviet soldiers marched towards the front lines of World War Two, in Red Square in Moscow
Putin has skipped key commemorative events including a 3D light show this weekend on the facade of the Winter Palace in his hometown of Saint Petersburg.
The armed uprising began on October 25, 1917 – which is November 7 according to the modern-day Gregorian calendar – after a shot was fired at the Winter Palace by the Aurora cruiser ship.
One of the few events linked to the centenary Putin has attended was the opening of a new church in Moscow, which he called ‘deeply symbolic’ after the revolution led to the destruction of religious buildings and persecution of believers.
Putin said this month that the revolution was ‘an integral, complex part of our history’, emphasising the need for ‘treating the past objectively and respectfully’.
The Kremlin has charged a committee of politicians, historians and clerics with organising this year’s festivities.
Organiser Konstantin Mogilevsky stressed at a presentation last month that the events were ‘not celebrations’ of 1917 but were intended to be a ‘calm conversation about revolution, aimed at understanding it’.
Russia’s leadership is desperate to avoid repeats of the ‘colour revolutions’ in other ex-Soviet countries, he said.
New period dramas on television have been some of the main forums for re-examining history.
One depicts revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky as a ‘rock ‘n’ roll hero’, according to its makers, while another examines Germany’s role in fomenting the Bolshevik Revolution.
Two military men in uniform take the reins behind a couple of white horses as the carriage they are sat on appears to be carrying ammunition
A female Russian cadet salutes as part of today’s historical parade in the capital city’s Red Square
One soldier grins as he stands in line with his comrades for the parade. Putin has skipped key commemorative events including a 3D light show this weekend on the facade of the Winter Palace in his hometown of Saint Petersburg
Residents gather to watch the parade. The armed uprising began on October 25, 1917 – which is November 7 according to the modern-day Gregorian calendar – after a shot was fired at the Winter Palace by the Aurora cruiser ship. One of the few events linked to the centenary Putin has attended was the opening of a new church in Moscow, which he called ‘deeply symbolic’ after the revolution led to the destruction of religious buildings and persecution of believers
A Russian veteran watches the parade marking the anniversary of a historical ceremony in 1941, when Soviet soldiers marched towards the front lines, at the Red Square in Moscow
November 7 is still a day off in neighbouring Belarus under the Soviet-style rule of President Alexander Lukashenko. But the last other such country, ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan, cancelled its November 7 public holiday this year
Russian soldiers in historical uniforms take part in a military parade on the Red Square in Moscow as they march in front of St Basil’s Cathedral
Russian cadets take part in a military parade to mark the anniversary of a historical parade in 1941, when Soviet soldiers marched towards the front lines, at the Red Square in Moscow, Russia on November 7, 2017
But many Russians are barely aware of the anniversary, commentators said.
‘The country that once counted its existence from October (1917) is now seeing in its centenary in deafening silence,’ wrote historian Ivan Kurilla in the Vedomosti business daily.
‘For an ordinary Russian, the centenary is passing by unnoticed,’ he added.
A report commissioned by the Communist Party found that 58 percent of Russians were not aware of the anniversary.
November 7 is still a day off in neighbouring Belarus under the Soviet-style rule of President Alexander Lukashenko.
But the last other such country, ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan, cancelled its November 7 public holiday this year.