Kremlin bars foreign media from May 9 parade

Moscow has significantly scaled back its military parade marking the end of the Second World War this year, with both military hardware and Western journalists set to be absent. The Kremlin has revoked accreditation for Der Spiegel and several other foreign media outlets.

According to Der Spiegel, the Kremlin informed the outlet by phone that its accreditation for the May 9 parade had been withdrawn. Other international media organisations also reportedly received similar calls, including ARD, ZDF, Sky, the news agency AFP, Italy’s Rai, and Japan’s NHK.

A Kremlin staff member told Der Spiegel: “The format for reporting on the parade has been changed due to the situation. Therefore, foreign media that had already been granted accreditation will no longer be admitted.” No further explanation was provided.

Other foreign outlets were reportedly told: “Only Russian media will be admitted.”

This marks the first time that foreign media were initially granted accreditation for the May 9 parade by the Kremlin, only to have it later revoked.

Russia appears to be holding this year’s Victory Day commemorations in a reduced format. The Defence Ministry announced that, due to the “current operational situation,” no military hardware will be displayed during the traditional parade on Red Square in Moscow on May 9.

Typically, the event features a large display of military equipment, with tanks and other heavy and light weaponry paraded through the capital.

By Tamilla Hasanova