More than 80,000 people gathered at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow on Friday to celebrate eight years since the annexation of Crimea. A very framed event to the glory of the head of the Kremlin.
It was around 4 p.m. when Vladimir Putin entered a long podium erected on the lawn of the great Luzhniki stadium in Moscow. A good distance from a fed public, in particular composed of representatives of Younarmia, a military and patriotic organization intended for children and linked to the Russian army. Moving on this platform in a relaxed way, winter coat and salmon-colored turtleneck, the Russian president defended his ongoing military operation in Ukraine, to celebrate eight years of the annexation of Crimea. He claimed “do everything for our people” again using his thesis of a “genocide” underway in Ukraine, against the Russian-speaking populations.
In a serious and concerned tone, he spoke of a “constant shelling in this area” and evoked a mysterious promise: “We know what we have to do next… We will certainly carry out all the plans we have made”. While the question of the return of dead soldiers in Ukraine could soon arise for public opinion, the Russian president took the opportunity of this meeting to congratulate his army and encourage the crowd to cheer him. “Our troops support each other. They behave like real blood brothers together in combat. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen such behavior.” launched the president in a climate of soft fervor. After a few minutes of speech, Vladimir Putin left the stage, taking the time to greet the chanting crowd. “Russia” waving Russian flags provided by the organization.
“Technical problem”
Like every year, everything had been prepared so that this appearance by the head of the Kremlin could be used at will by the state media to illustrate popular support for the president. Lights, flags, sets, crowds and many cameras crushed the significant distance between the head of state and his supporters. For health, security and image control reasons, Vladimir Putin avoids crowds. The false direct from the first Russian channel got carried away, interrupting Vladimir Putin a few seconds before the end of his speech. “A technical problem related to a server”, hastened to respond Dmitri Peskov, his spokesperson, while Russian Twitter heated up on defections – linked to the war in Ukraine – more and more numerous within the propaganda organs of the Kremlin.
This year again, this afternoon of concerts and political speeches did not shine by its spontaneity. As is tradition at these events designed for the image, thousands of people were brought by bus to the event. Some employers had provided tickets to be punched after the Russian president’s speech. Civil servants also attended this speech under direct pressure from their superior. Finally, it is also an old tradition on the part of the organizers, advertisements had been posted on recruitment sites for extras. The two hours on site were remunerated at 500 rubles (about 4 euros), a price that has not changed in recent years despite a clearly visible general price increase. Military ovens had been installed at the exit of the stadium to provide tea and food to the paid guests of the event.
Several national stars have agreed to participate in this day. Popular singer Polina Gagarina performed a song there, while pro-Kremlin rapper Timati regretted the sanctions affecting the country, saying that “Russia would produce cooler products on its own”. During a sequence “nostalgia for the USSR”, singer Oleg Gazmanov played his flagship title Designed in the USSRwhose lyrics begin as follows: “Ukraine and Crimea, Belarus and Moldova, this is my country!” In a Russia in which the term “war” seems to be becoming increasingly acceptable despite a law banning the use of it to qualify Russia’s actions in Ukraine, Margarita Simonian, RT’s editor-in-chief said on stage, “little mother Russia, punish those who bomb Melitopol and Mariupol”. Will she be heard?