The region is ranked fourth in Russia as of the number of COVID cases

Press Release, 19.06.2020

The Nizhny Novgorod branch of Yabloko appealed to Governor Gleb Nikitin with a demand to cancel the Victory Day parade in Nizhny Novgorod scheduled on June 24 instead of May 9 due to the epidemic. The corresponding appeal was sent to the Governor by Oleg Rodin, Chairman of the Nizhny Novgorod regional branch of the Yabloko party.

“On June 24, a Victory Parade [in memory of the victory in the World War 2] is planned in Nizhny Novgorod. We consider this decision reckless in the current environment. To date, the Nizhny Novgorod region is ranked fourth in Russia as of the number of those infected with coronavirus, it is second only to the metropolitan regions and noticeably overtaking all the others. The daily increase in patients exceeds 200 people. All this indicates the preservation of a high level of risk of infection. Holding a parade in such conditions will endanger the health and lives of not only the Nizhny Novgorod spectators of the event, but also military personnel participating in the parade. Veterans who are at the risk group because of age are in particular danger in this situation.

The parade is contrary to the fact that mass events are still banned in the region, many enterprises remain closed, and business continues to incur losses. And the mandatory wearing of means of protection for spectators and participants will only create an illusion of security, but will not be able to prevent the spread of the virus.

We are asking the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region to demonstrate reasonableness and not to neglect the health of citizens. The parade in the current epidemiological conditions will entail serious consequences. We consider it necessary to cancel the parade this year, and redirect the money which is thus saved towards the support of medical facilities and their employees,” runs the letter of the Chairman of the Nizhny Novgorod branch of Yabloko.

It should be noted that 13 cities have already canceled the parade, several more have postponed it to a later date. Earlier, the regional branch of Yabloko in Bashikiria appealed to the head of Bashkiria not to hold a parade and other mass events during the pandemic.