2005 Moscow Victory Day Parade

{{Short description|Victory Day Parade in Moscow}}

File:Victory Day Parade 2005-22.jpg

The 2005 Moscow Victory Day Parade was a military parade which took place in Red Square in Moscow on 9 May 2005 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the capitulation of Nazi Germany in 1945.{{cite news|title=Leaders mourn Soviet wartime dead|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk./1/hi/world/europe/4528127.stm|accessdate=19 August 2016|work=BBC News Channel|publisher=BBC|date=2005-05-09|archive-date=2005-05-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050528043828/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4528127.stm|url-status=live}} The parade was inspected by the Minister of Defence Sergei Ivanov and it was commanded by Moscow Military District Commander General of the Army Ivan Efremov. Music was performed by the Massed Bands of the Moscow Garrison directed by Colonel Valery Khalilov on his 3rd national parade, the first to include 4 international marching bands. After the inspection of the troops, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin gave his 6th-holiday address to the nation. More than 150 foreign dignitaries (included 50 heads of state) were presented. Among them were Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura, President of the United States George W. Bush, President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao, Japanese Prime Minister Junichirō Koizumi, French President Jacques Chirac, Chancellor of Germany Gerhard Schroeder, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and President of Turkmenistan Saparmurat Niyazov. It was the largest parade in the history of Russia, and one of the largest in the world's history.

Parade

This was the last time veterans took part directly as participants. This time through, reenacting the motorized infantry of the original 1945 parade mobile column, many veterans of the fronts rode in the very trucks which carried infantry to the front lines of the war, arranged accordingly by the fronts they took part at war's end. Veterans from nations such as North Korea{{cite web|url=http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/33908|title=President Vladimir Putin sent a message of congratulations to Chairman of the National Defence Committee of the People's Democratic of North Korea Kim Jong-il on the occasion of the country's national holiday – the Sixtieth anniversary of the Liberation of Korea|website=en.kremlin.ru|access-date=2021-02-05|archive-date=2024-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129113436/http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/33908|url-status=live}} and Turkmenistan{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/node/4008|title=5 Turkmen World War II veterans to take part in military parade in Moscow 9 May | Turkmenistan.ru|website=www.turkmenistan.ru|access-date=2021-02-05|archive-date=2021-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209102723/http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/node/4008|url-status=live}} took part in the parade alongside their Russian counterparts.

=Troops participating in the parade=

Following the parade commander's car the parade marched past the saluting grandstand in the following order,

=Music=

The music and marches were played by the Military Band of the Armed Forces of Russia under the direction of Colonel Valery Khalilov

; Inspection and address

  • March of the Preobrazhensky Regiment (Марш Преображенского Полка)
  • Slow March of the Tankmen (Встречный Марш Танкистов) by Semyon Tchernetsky
  • Slow March to Carry the War Flag (Встречный Марш для выноса Боевого Знамени) by Dmitriy Valentinovich Kadeyev
  • Slow March of the Guards of the Navy (Гвардейский Встречный Марш Военно-Морского Флота) by Nikolai Pavlocich Ivanov-Radkevich
  • Slow March of the Officers Schools (Встречный Марш офицерских училищ) by Semyon Tchernetsky
  • Slow March (Встречный Марш) by Dmitry Pertsev
  • Slow March of the Red Army (Встречный Марш Красной Армии) by Semyon Tchernetsky
  • March of the Preobrazhensky Regiment (Марш Преображенского Полка)
  • Glory (Славься) by Mikhail Glinka
  • Parade Fanfare All Listen! (Парадная Фанфара «Слушайте все!») by Andrei Golovin
  • National Anthem of the Russian Federation (Государственный Гимн Российской Федерации) by Alexander Alexandrov
  • Signal Retreat (Сигнал «Отбой»)

; Veteran and mobile column

  • March General Miloradovich (Марш Генерал Милорадович) by Valery Khalilov
  • Farewell of Slavianka (Прощание Славянки) by Vasiliy Agapkin
  • Defenders of Moscow (Защитников Москвы) by Boris Alexandrovich Mokroysov
  • Artillery March (Марш Артиллеристов) by Tikhon Khrennikov
  • Katyusha (Катюша) by Matvey Blanter
  • Ballad of a Soldier (Баллада о Солдате) by Vasily Pavlovich Solovyov-Sedoy
  • Sacred War (Священная Война) by Alexandr Alexandrov
  • March The track to the frontline/The Song of the frontline driver (Марш «Дорожка фронтовая»/Песенка фронтового шофёра) by Boris Andreyevich Mokrousov
  • March Victory (Марш Победа) by Albert Mikhailovich Arutyunov
  • Lefort's March (Лефортовский Марш) by Valery Khalilov
  • On Guard for the Peace (На страже Мира) by Boris Alexandrovich Diev
  • Combat March (Строевой Марш) by Dmitry Illarionovich Pertsev
  • Air March (Авиамарш) by Yuliy Abramovich Khait
  • March of the Cosmonauts/Friends, I believe (Марш Космонавтов /Я верю, друзья) by Oskar Borisovich Feltsman
  • March Farewell, rocky mountains (Марш/Песня «Прощайте, скалистые горы») by Evgeny Emmanuilovich Zharkovsky
  • Crew is One Family (Экипаж - одна семья) by Viktor Vasilyevich Pleshak
  • We are the Army of the People (Мы Армия Народа) by Georgy Viktorovich Mavsesya
  • We Need One Victory (Нам Нужна Одна Победа) by Bulat Shalvovich Okudzhava
  • Glory to the Heroes (Слава героям) by Dmitry Illarionovich Pertsev
  • On the Road (В Путь) by Vasily Pavlovich Solovyov-Sedoy
  • In Defense of the Homeland (В защиту Родины) by Viktor Sergeyevich Runov

; Conclusion

Dignitaries in attendance

The Victory Day parade drew many international statesman to the Russian capital in the days leading up to 9 May. According to the Russian government, top leaders from 56 countries were invited to join Putin in the 2005 parade.{{cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/574697|title=К параду годен|date=2 May 2005}} In total, about 150 countries were represented at the parade.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} It was the largest gathering of world leaders in Russian history.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} The parade was the first one to be attended by world leaders since the 1995 parade (which attracts 57 countries).{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"

! style="width:50em; text-align:left" | List of international leaders and dignitaries at the 2005 parade

* {{flagicon|Russia}} President of Russia - Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila

  • {{flagicon|United Nations}} Secretary-General of the United Nations - Kofi Annan
  • {{flagicon|European Union}} President of the European Commission - José Manuel Barroso{{cite web|url = https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2704739|title = По параду рассчитайсь!|date = 8 April 2015|access-date = 5 September 2020|archive-date = 17 May 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210517184934/https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2704739|url-status = live}}
  • {{flagicon|China}} President of China and CCP General Secretary - Hu Jintao
  • {{flagicon|United States}} President of the United States - George W. Bush and his wife Laura{{cite news|last1=Associated Press|title=Bush joins Putin for parade|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/bush-joins-putin-for-parade/article_e81183e0-796a-5ccf-9799-3b64dd5d1c23.html|accessdate=19 August 2016|work=Tulsa World|agency=AP|date=2005-05-10}}
  • {{flagicon|Croatia}} President of Croatia - Stjepan Mesić{{cite web|url=https://tass.ru/info/4654286|title = Визиты президентов Хорватии в Россию. Досье}}
  • {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} President of the Czech Republic - Václav Klaus{{cite web|url=https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-svet/oslavy-vitezstvi-vyvrcholily-obri-prehlidkou-na-rudem-namesti_200505091150_mhromadka|title=Oslavy vítězství vyvrcholily obří přehlídkou na Rudém náměstí|website=iROZHLAS|access-date=2021-04-20|archive-date=2021-04-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420155607/https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-svet/oslavy-vitezstvi-vyvrcholily-obri-prehlidkou-na-rudem-namesti_200505091150_mhromadka|url-status=live}}
  • {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom - John Prescott{{Cite web |date=2005-05-16 |title=Speech by John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom |url=https://www.coe.int/t/dcr/summit/20050516_speech_prescott_en.asp |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=www.coe.int |archive-date=2024-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240730015528/https://www.coe.int/t/dcr/summit/20050516_speech_prescott_en.asp |url-status=live }}
  • {{flagicon|Mongolia|1992}} President of Mongolia - Natsagiin Bagabandi{{cite web|url=http://embassymongolia.ru/|title=Site is undergoing maintenance|website=Embassymongolia.ru - Монгол Улсаас ОХУ-д суугаа Элчин сайдын яам|access-date=2020-09-05|archive-date=2020-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727212257/http://embassymongolia.ru/|url-status=live}}
  • {{flagicon|Denmark}} Prime Minister of Denmark - Anders Fogh Rasmussen{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-06-fg-ve6-story.html|title=Victory Day Celebrations Begin|website=Los Angeles Times|date=6 May 2005}}
  • {{flagicon|India}} Prime Minister of India - Manmohan Singh{{cite news|last1=Bash|first1=Dana|last2=King|first2=John|title=Bush dances after arrival in Georgia|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/05/09/bush.monday/index.html|accessdate=19 August 2016|work=CNN International|date=2005-05-10|archive-date=2015-06-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602070520/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/05/09/bush.monday/index.html|url-status=live}}
  • {{flagicon|Poland}} President of Poland - Aleksander Kwaśniewski{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20050508/39950767.html|title = Президент Польши Александр Квасьневский прибыл в Москву|date = 8 May 2005}}
  • {{flagicon|Spain}} Prime Minister of Spain - José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
  • {{flagicon|Luxembourg}} Prime Minister of Luxembourg - Jean-Claude Juncker{{cite web|url=http://www.eu2005.lu/en/actualites/communiques/2005/05/10juncker-ru/index.html|title=Luxembourg Presidency - Jean-Claude Juncker at the EU-Russia summit: "Russia and the EU do not intend to divide Europe and adjacent regions into spheres and zones of influence"|website=www.eu2005.lu|access-date=2020-09-08|archive-date=2020-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213182406/http://www.eu2005.lu/en/actualites/communiques/2005/05/10juncker-ru/index.html|url-status=live}}
  • {{flagicon|Italy|2003}} Prime Minister of Italy - Silvio Berlusconi{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20050507/39946317.html|title = Премьер-министр Италии примет участие в праздновании 60-летия Победы|date = 7 May 2005}}
  • {{flagicon|Ireland}} Prime Minister of Ireland - Bertie Ahern{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0509/62843-russia/|title=VE Day is commemorated in Russia|website=www.rte.ie/|date=9 May 2005|accessdate=9 May 2022|archive-date=9 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509221317/https://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0509/62843-russia/|url-status=live}}
  • {{flagicon|Israel}} President of Israel - Moshe Katsav and his wife Gila Katsav{{cite web|url=http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/22939|title=Press Statement and Answers to Questions Following Talks with President of Israel Moshe Katsav|access-date=2020-09-08|archive-date=2020-10-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001080428/http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/22939|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/81519|title = President Katsav to Attend Moscow Memorial Service| date=8 May 2005 }}
  • {{flagicon|Canada}} Governor General of Canada - Adrienne Clarkson and her husband John Ralston Saul{{cite web|url = https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2005/05/governor-general-itinerary-moscow-russia.html|title = Governor General's Itinerary in Moscow, Russia|date = 6 May 2005|access-date = 8 September 2020|archive-date = 14 March 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210314170358/https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2005/05/governor-general-itinerary-moscow-russia.html|url-status = live}}
  • {{flagicon|Armenia}} President of Armenia - Robert Kocharyan and his wife Bella{{cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/983270|title=В Москву прибыл Роберт Кочарян|date=8 May 2005}}{{cite web|title=Liberation of Shushi End of WWII Cause for Celebrations in Armenia|url=http://asbarez.com/52157/liberation-of-shushi-end-of-wwii-cause-for-celebrations-in-armenia/|date=2005-05-09|website=Asbarez.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-08|archive-date=2020-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201020929/https://asbarez.com/52157/liberation-of-shushi-end-of-wwii-cause-for-celebrations-in-armenia/|url-status=live}}
  • {{flagicon|Hungary}} President of Hungary - Ferenc Mádl{{cite web|url=http://www.ng.24.hu/kultura/2005/05/09/moszkvaban_felhoket_oszlattak_az_unnepre/|title=Moszkvában felhőket oszlattak az ünnepre|access-date=2021-09-14|archive-date=2021-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920182156/https://ng.24.hu/kultura/2005/05/09/moszkvaban_felhoket_oszlattak_az_unnepre/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.beol.hu/friss-hirek/madl-megy-moszkvaba-13170/|title = Mádl megy Moszkvába|date = 8 May 2005}}
  • {{flagicon|South Korea|1997}} President of South Korea - Roh Moo-hyun
  • {{flagicon|Japan}} Prime Minister of Japan - Junichiro Koizumi{{cite web|url=http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/33322|title=Владимир Путин встретился с Премьер-министром Японии Дзюнъитиро Коидзуми|website=Президент России|access-date=2020-09-08|archive-date=2021-03-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314170338/http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/33322|url-status=live}}
  • {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Prime Minister of the Netherlands - Jan Peter Balkenende
  • {{flagicon|Cyprus}} President of Cyprus - Tassos Papadopoulos
  • {{flagicon|Moldova|1990}} President of Moldova - Vladimir Voronin{{cite web|url=https://obzor.city/news/6034|title=В Москву прибыли президенты Украины и Молдавии|access-date=2020-06-05|archive-date=2020-06-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605004334/https://obzor.city/news/6034|url-status=live}}
  • {{flagicon|Romania}} President of Romania - Traian Băsescu{{cite web|url=http://moscova.mae.ro/en/node/784|title=Visits of Presidents | EMBASSY OF ROMANIA in the Russian Federation|website=moscova.mae.ro|access-date=2020-06-06|archive-date=2020-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606021956/http://moscova.mae.ro/en/node/784|url-status=live}}
  • {{flagicon|Germany}} Chancellor of Germany - Gerhard Schroeder{{cite news|last1=Parfitt|first1=Tom|title=Leaders' snub of Moscow victory parade 'insult to soldiers', says Russia|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/11490770/Leaders-snub-of-Moscow-victory-parade-insult-to-soldiers-says-Russia.html|accessdate=19 August 2016|work=The Telegraph|date=2015-03-23|archive-date=2016-10-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010122821/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/11490770/Leaders-snub-of-Moscow-victory-parade-insult-to-soldiers-says-Russia.html|url-status=live}}
  • {{flagicon|Albania}} President of Albania - Alfred Moisiu
  • {{flagicon|Austria}} President of Austria - Heinz Fischer
  • {{flagicon|Ukraine}} President of Ukraine - Viktor Yushchenko{{cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ru/politics/18/03/2005/5703ba889a7947afa08c7a11|title=В.Ющенко заедет в Москву 9 мая|access-date=2020-09-08|archive-date=2021-03-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314170351/https://amp.rbc.ru/rbcnews/politics/18/03/2005/5703ba889a7947afa08c7a11|url-status=live}}
  • {{flagicon|Turkey}} Prime Minister of Turkey - Recep Tayyip Erdogan
  • {{flagicon|Greece}} President of Greece - Karolos Papoulias
  • {{flagicon|France|1974}} President of France - Jacques Chirac
  • {{flagicon|Finland}} President of Finland - Tarja Halonen
  • {{flagicon|Kyrgyzstan|1992}} President of Kyrgyzstan - Kurmanbek Bakiyev and his wife Tatyana Bakiyeva
  • {{flagicon|Azerbaijan|1991}} President of Azerbaijan - Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20050508/39952800.html|title = Алиев прибыл в Москву для участия в праздновании 60-летия Победы|date = 8 May 2005}}
  • {{flagicon|Serbia and Montenegro}} President of Serbia and Montenegro - Svetozar Marović{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20050506/39942877.html|title = Приезд в Москву мировых лидеров продемонстрирует глобальное единство|date = 6 May 2005}}
  • {{flagicon|Slovakia}} President of Slovakia - Ivan Gašparovič{{Cite web |title=Prezident SR - Náhľad foto |url=https://archiv.prezident.sk/gasparovic/index80e5-3.html |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=archiv.prezident.sk}}
  • {{flagicon|Slovenia}} President of Slovenia - Janez Drnovšek{{cite web|url=https://www.dnevnik.si/124283|title=V Moskvi se je začela parada ob 60. obletnici konca vojne|date=9 May 2005|accessdate=9 May 2022|language=sl|archive-date=9 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509221318/https://www.dnevnik.si/124283|url-status=live}}
  • {{flagicon|Turkmenistan}} President of Turkmenistan - Saparmurat Niyazov{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/node/3962|title=Saparmurat Niyazov to participate in festivities on 60th anniversary of Great Victory in Moscow | Turkmenistan.ru|website=www.turkmenistan.ru}}
  • {{flagicon|Tajikistan}} President of Tajikistan - Emomali Rahmon
  • {{flagicon|Kazakhstan}} President of Kazakhstan - Nursultan Nazarbayev{{cite web|url=https://www.kazpravda.kz/articles/view/uvazhenie-k-istorii|title=Уважение к истории - Новости Казахстана - свежие, актуальные, последние новости об о всем|access-date=2020-09-05|archive-date=2020-07-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702040641/https://kazpravda.kz/articles/view/uvazhenie-k-istorii|url-status=live}}
  • {{flagicon|Latvia}} President of Latvia - Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/06/AR2005050601217.html |title=Vaira Vike-Freiberga - Rights and Remembrance |work=Washingtonpost.com |date=2005-05-07 |accessdate=2022-06-08 |archive-date=2022-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123225108/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/06/AR2005050601217.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20050508/39950469.html|title = Президент Латвии Вике-Фрейберга прибыла в Москву|date = 8 May 2005}}{{cite web|url=https://lv.baltnews.com/Russia_West/20191025/1023460966/Prezident-Latvii-na-prazdnovanii-Dnya-Pobedy-v-Moskve--vozmozhno-li-takoe.html|title=Президент Латвии на праздновании Дня Победы в Москве – возможно ли такое? | Россия-Запад | Baltnews - новостной портал на русском языке в Латвии, Прибалтика, сводки событий, мнения, комментарии.|website=lv.baltnews.com}}
  • {{flagicon|Uzbekistan}} President of Uzbekistan - Islam Karimov
  • {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} President of Bulgaria - Georgi Parvanov
  • {{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} President of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Borislav Paravac
  • {{flagicon|Russia}} Former President of Russia - Boris Yeltsin{{cite web|url = https://ria.ru/20050509/39954756.html|title = На Красной площади проходит парад Победы|date = 9 May 2005|access-date = 8 September 2020|archive-date = 30 August 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200830235436/https://ria.ru/20050509/39954756.html|url-status = live}}
  • {{flagicon|Poland}} Former President of Poland - Wojciech Jaruzelski
  • {{flagicon|Romania}} Former King of Romania - Michael I
  • {{flagicon|Soviet Union}} Former leader of the Soviet Union - Mikhail Gorbachev
  • {{flagicon|Cyprus}} Former President of Cyprus - Glafcos Klerides

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder brought with him a group of Wehrmacht veterans, whom Vladimir Putin personally approached after a military parade on Red Square. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi also arrived with Italian veterans.

=Cancelled attendees=

President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, as well as two Presidents of Baltic nations, did not attend despite being invited. Saakashvili justified his refusal to attend by saying that "there was nothing much to celebrate in Moscow", instead hosting a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Tbilisi, and hosting President Bush in the Georgian capital the following day.{{cite web|title=Саакашвили: Грузии нечего праздновать в Москве|url=https://lenta.ru/news/2005/05/08/saakashvili/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=lenta.ru|archive-date=2015-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127055312/http://lenta.ru/news/2005/05/08/saakashvili/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Саакашвили: Новый Кантария водрузит грузинский флаг над Абхазией|url=https://lenta.ru/news/2005/05/09/saaka/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=lenta.ru|archive-date=2021-03-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314170345/https://lenta.ru/news/2005/05/09/saaka/|url-status=live}} Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and Estonian President Arnold Rüütel jointly announced their non-participation in the parade on 7 March.{{cite web|url=https://regnum.ru/news/polit/417648.html|title=Президенты Литвы и Эстонии отказались приехать в Москву на празднование 60-летия Победы|access-date=2021-02-06|archive-date=2021-03-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314170332/https://regnum.ru/news/polit/417648.html|url-status=live}} They were all represented by lower-level politicians. In addition to that, a number of ambassadors and war veterans were presented as private attendees. British Prime Minister Tony Blair was unable to attend due to an emergency engagement followed the 2005 United Kingdom general election.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsru.com/arch/russia/09may2005/parad.html|title=Парад в честь 60-летия Победы прошел на Красной площади|date=May 9, 2005|website=NEWSru.com|access-date=September 14, 2021|archive-date=September 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914142435/https://www.newsru.com/arch/russia/09may2005/parad.html|url-status=live}} Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was also invited, however instead chose to preside over the Victory Day Parade on Minsk's Victors Avenue.{{cite web|date=2005-05-09|title=За парадом в Минске наблюдало около 100 тысяч человек|url=https://news.tut.by/politics/52984.html|access-date=2020-10-05|website=TUT.BY|language=ru|archive-date=2020-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009035440/https://news.tut.by/politics/52984.html|url-status=dead}}

Gallery

File:Victory Day Parade 2005-8.jpg|WW2 Veterans of the Soviet Union on Parade

File:Victory Day Parade 2005-6.jpg|President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin's Victory Day Parade speech

File:Sergei Ivanov g8o2613-398h.jpg|Minister of Defense Sergei Ivanov

File:Victory Day Parade 2005-16.jpg|Veterans of the War.

File:Victory Day Parade 2005-17.jpg|Heads of state (from left to right) : Jacques Chirac, Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush.

File:Victory Day Parade 2005-1.jpg|

File:Victory Day Parade 2005-4.jpg|

File:Victory Day Parade 2005-3.jpg|

File:Victory Day Parade 2005-14.jpg|

File:Victory Day Parade 2005-10.jpg|

See also

References

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}