Moscow mayor urges residents to stay home during upcoming Russia Day and Victory Day celebrations

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has announced that the Russian capital is not planning any public events for Russia Day (June 12), or for the day of the rescheduled Victory Day parade on June 24. He recommended that city residents stay at home.

“I would not recommend going anywhere on these holidays, mass events are still banned here. Yes, official events will take place on the 12th and on the day of the parade. But it’s better to watch it on television. There shouldn’t be any extras or spectators there,” he said during a broadcast on the television channel Rossiya 24.

The Russian capital lifted its self-isolation regime on June 9 after over two months of lockdown restrictions. The cancellation took place ahead of schedule: the self-isolation regime was originally supposed to remain in place until June 14.

The decision to end the self-isolation order in Moscow was linked to the upcoming nationwide vote on constitutional amendments, which was rescheduled for July 1.