‘One country, one family, one Russia’: Live concert in Moscow’s Red Square celebrates anniversary of last year’s annexations
A live concert has started in Moscow’s Red Square, in celebration of Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian territories last year. Its slogan, “One country, one family, one Russia,” is consistent with Moscow’s official rhetoric, which presents the annexation of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions as a “reunification” with Russia, propelled by the people’s right to self-determination.
Russia’s usual stable of patriotic performers — Shaman, Oleg Gazmanov, Grigory Leps, and others — has been trotted out for the occasion.
Although in the past Russia’s President Vladimir Putin would reliably show up at events like this, his press secretary Dmitry Peskov says he isn’t expected this time. None of the federal TV channels or official websites are broadcasting the event, either.
Russia formally annexed the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine on September 30 last year, when Putin signed a corresponding treaty with four Russian-appointed “governors” from those regions.
This week, the Russian president signed an order to institute a new state holiday in Russia to commemorate the annexations. September 30 will now mark Russia’s “Reunification Day.”
