2022 Moscow rally

The arena and stage featured slogans reading "For a world without Nazism",{{efn|"Zа мир без нацизма"; usually written "За мир без нацизма".}} "For the president",{{efn|"Zа Президента"; usually written "За Президента".}} and "For Russia",{{efn|"Zа Россию"; usually written "За Россию".}} but featuring the Latin Z character in place of the usual Cyrillic З. Some signs also featured Saint George's ribbon-styled Z's with the hashtag #СвоихНеБросаем,{{cite web |last1=Patel-Carstairs |first1=Sunita |title=Putin hails 'special operation' in Ukraine at massive celebration party for 'reunification' of Crimea |url=https://news.sky.com/story/putin-hails-special-operation-in-ukraine-at-massive-celebration-party-for-reunification-of-crimea-12569331 |publisher=Sky News |access-date=20 March 2022 |date=March 19, 2022 |archive-date=19 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319233057/https://news.sky.com/story/putin-hails-special-operation-in-ukraine-at-massive-celebration-party-for-reunification-of-crimea-12569331 |url-status=live }} meaning "we don't abandon our own".{{cite news |last1=MacFarquhar |first1=Nick |title=The letter 'Z' has become a symbol for Russians who support the invasion of Ukraine |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/07/world/europe/russia-letter-z-ivan-kuliak.html |access-date=20 March 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=March 7, 2022 |archive-date=8 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308002119/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/07/world/europe/russia-letter-z-ivan-kuliak.html |url-status=live }}File:LuzhnikiStadium.jpg hosted the event|left]]

The rally's content, described by Agence France-Presse as "heavily anti-Western and filled with Soviet nostalgia," emphasized patriotism, heroism, and support for the military.{{cite news |last=Agence France Presse |date=18 March 2022 |title=Moscow marks Crimea annexation with patriotic rally |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220318-moscow-marks-crimea-annexation-with-patriotic-rally |work=France24 |location=Paris, France |access-date=8 April 2022 |archive-date=19 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319022546/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220318-moscow-marks-crimea-annexation-with-patriotic-rally |url-status=live }} Polina Gagarina, who represented Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015, performed her cover of "Kukushka" from the 2015 film Battle for Sevastopol.{{cite web |last1=Chibowska |first1=Karolina |title=Polina Gagarina w ogniu krytyki. Po tym, jak zaśpiewała dla Putina, nie zostawiono na niej suchej nitki |url=https://kobieta.onet.pl/wiadomosci/polina-gagarina-zaspiewala-dla-putina-nie-zostawiono-na-niej-suchej-nitki/7sgz1vx |publisher=Onet Kobieta |access-date=19 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319100111/https://kobieta.onet.pl/wiadomosci/polina-gagarina-zaspiewala-dla-putina-nie-zostawiono-na-niej-suchej-nitki/7sgz1vx |archive-date=19 March 2022 |language=Polish |date=19 March 2022 |url-status=live}} Russian band Lyube played patriotic songs about wartime,{{cite web |agency=Reuters |title=Putin tries to rally Russia behind invasion but TV glitch hinders address |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/putin-tries-to-rally-russia-behind-invasion-but-tv-glitch-hinders-address-1.4830615 |publisher=The Irish Times |access-date=19 March 2022 |date=March 18, 2022 |archive-date=18 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318232329/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/putin-tries-to-rally-russia-behind-invasion-but-tv-glitch-hinders-address-1.4830615 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/18/europe/russia-putin-ukraine-invasion-rally-intl/index.html |title=Putin celebrates anniversary of Crimea annexation at stadium rally amid Russia's onslaught of Ukraine |last1=John |first1=Tara |last2=Pavlova |first2=Uliana |last3=Graham-Yooll |first3=Anastasia |date=18 March 2022 |website=CNN.com |publisher=CNN |access-date=26 March 2022 |quote= |archive-date=8 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408181050/https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/18/europe/russia-putin-ukraine-invasion-rally-intl/index.html |url-status=live }} Oleg Gazmanov performed the song "Born in the U.S.S.R.",{{efn|The opening of the song reads: "The Ukraine and the Crimea, Belarus and Moldova, this is my country!{{nbsp}}... Kazakhstan and the Caucasus, and the Baltics too."{{cite web |last1=Pomerantsev |first1=Peter |title=Born in the USSR |url=https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2013/december/born-in-the-ussr |publisher=London Review of Books |access-date=20 March 2022 |date=19 December 2013 |archive-date=20 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320015914/https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2013/december/born-in-the-ussr |url-status=live }}}}{{Cite web |last=Reimann |first=Nicholas |title=Putin Holds Massive Pro-War Rally In Moscow |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/03/18/putin-holds-massive-pro-war-rally-in-moscow/ |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=2022-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318172520/https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/03/18/putin-holds-massive-pro-war-rally-in-moscow/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Anna |first1=Cara |title=Putin appears at big rally as troops press attack in Ukraine |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/putin-appears-big-rally-troops-press-attack-ukraine-83527031 |website=ABC News |agency=Associated Press |access-date=19 March 2022 |date=March 18, 2022 |archive-date=19 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319003956/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/putin-appears-big-rally-troops-press-attack-ukraine-83527031/ |url-status=live }} and Fyodor Tyutchev's May 1867 poem "Напрасный труд — нет, их не вразумишь..."{{efn|Напрасный труд — нет, их не вразумишь,—

Чем либеральней, тем они пошлее,

Цивилизация — для них фетиш,

Но недоступна им ее идея.

Как перед ней ни гнитесь, господа,

Вам не снискать признанья от Европы:

В ее глазах вы будете всегда

Не слуги просвещенья, а холопы.{{cite web |title=Напрасный труд — нет, их не вразумишь... |url=https://rupoem.ru/tyutchev/naprasnyj-trud-net.aspx |website=Русская поэзия |publisher=Monster |access-date=19 March 2022 |archive-date=18 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418171815/https://rupoem.ru/tyutchev/naprasnyj-trud-net.aspx |url-status=live }}

It's no use — you will not understand them —

The more liberal the more base and cruel.

Civilization for them is a fetish,

But inaccessible to them is its ideal.

Though you may bow before it, citizens,

You will never win Europe's recognition:

In its eyes you will always be not servants

Of Enlightenment but slaves without rights.{{cite web |last1=Cigale |first1=Alex |title=Anthology of Russian Minimalist and Miniature Poems; Part I, The Silver Age |url=https://www.albany.edu/offcourse/issue41/cigale_translations1.html |website=Off Course: A Literary Journey |access-date=19 March 2022 |archive-date=27 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227120708/https://www.albany.edu/offcourse/issue41/cigale_translations1.html |url-status=live }}}}{{cite book |last1=Tuytchev |first1=Fyodor |title=Избранное |date=1996 |publisher=Феникс |location=Rostov-on-Don |isbn=5-85880-081-5 |language=Russian}} was read by Russian actor Vladimir Mashkov.{{cite news |title=Putin Tells Mass Rally That Russia Will Prevail in Ukraine |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/putin-tells-mass-rally-that-russia-will-prevail-in-ukraine/6491090.html |access-date=19 March 2022 |work=VOA News |agency=Reuters |date=March 18, 2022 |archive-date=18 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318233636/https://www.voanews.com/a/putin-tells-mass-rally-that-russia-will-prevail-in-ukraine/6491090.html |url-status=live }} Other speakers at the event included RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, who said, "This is for our boys who are fighting scum right now";{{cite web |author1=AFP |title=Moscow marks Crimea annexation with patriotic rally |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220318-moscow-marks-crimea-annexation-with-patriotic-rally |publisher=France24 |access-date=20 March 2022 |date=March 18, 2022 |archive-date=19 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319022546/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220318-moscow-marks-crimea-annexation-with-patriotic-rally |url-status=live }} Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin, who thanked "the guys who with weapons in their hands defend Russian citizens in the Donbas{{nbsp}}... Half the world has united against us, but Russia is a strong country";{{cite web |title=Putin praises unity at Moscow rally to support Ukraine invasion |url=https://www.laprensalatina.com/putin-praises-unity-at-moscow-rally-to-support-ukraine-invasion-2/ |publisher=Le Prensa Latina |access-date=20 March 2022 |date=March 18, 2022 |archive-date=18 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318161233/https://www.laprensalatina.com/putin-praises-unity-at-moscow-rally-to-support-ukraine-invasion-2/ |url-status=live }} and Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maria Zakharova, who called Russia "a country and nation that safeguards peace and fights evil".{{cite news |last1=Vernon |first1=Will |title=Putin hails Crimea annexation and war with lessons on heroism |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60793319 |access-date=19 March 2022 |work=BBC News |date=March 18, 2022 |archive-date=18 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318232056/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60793319 |url-status=live }} Many of the speakers wore Z-shaped Saint George's ribbons, which also appeared on signs in the crowd.

Numerous Russian Olympic athletes were featured during the rally, including several who had recently returned from the 2022 Beijing Olympics. The Russian national anthem was played while they were on stage, a reference to the anthem being banned at the previous three Olympics due to state-sponsored doping.{{cite news |last=McCarriston |first=Shanna |date=23 March 2022 |title=Russian Olympic athletes facing backlash after attending rally to support Vladimir Putin |url=https://www.cbssports.com/olympics/news/russian-olympic-athletes-facing-backlash-after-attending-rally-to-support-vladimir-putin/ |work=CBS Sports |access-date=26 March 2022 |archive-date=31 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331205314/https://www.cbssports.com/olympics/news/russian-olympic-athletes-facing-backlash-after-attending-rally-to-support-vladimir-putin/ |url-status=live }} Athletes in attendance included cross-country skier Alexander Bolshunov; figure skaters Nikita Katsalapov, Vladimir Morozov, Victoria Sinitsina, and Evgenia Tarasova; rhythmic gymnasts Dina Averina and Arina Averina; wrestlers Abdulrashid Sadulaev, Zaur Uguev, and Zaurbek Sidakov; and swimmer Evgeny Rylov. Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak, who was undergoing International Gymnastics Federation disciplinary proceedings for wearing a "Z" sticker at the 2022 Doha World Cup, wore an Olympic medal at the rally, though he had not competed in any Olympics.{{cite news |last=Bondar |first=Gregory |date=23 March 2022 |title=Олімпійський чемпіон Верняєв висміяв спортсмена з РФ, який вийшов на мітинг на підтримку війни з чужою медаллю |url=https://sport.unian.ua/othersports/oleg-vernyayev-vismiyav-sportsmena-z-rf-yakiy-viyshov-na-miting-na-pidtrimku-viyni-z-chuzhoyu-medallyu-novyny-sportu-11756380.html |work=The UNIAN |location=Kyiv, Ukraine |access-date=26 March 2022 |archive-date=14 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414011434/https://sport.unian.ua/othersports/oleg-vernyayev-vismiyav-sportsmena-z-rf-yakiy-viyshov-na-miting-na-pidtrimku-viyni-z-chuzhoyu-medallyu-novyny-sportu-11756380.html |url-status=live }}

The rally marked Russian President Vladimir Putin's first public appearance since the start of the invasion of Ukraine. In his speech, which he opened by quoting the Constitution of Russia, Putin congratulated the "people of Crimea and Sevastopol" and wished them a "happy anniversary" of the annexation of Crimea. He went on to discuss those areas' finances and infrastructure, claiming that instead of Ukraine's "leftover financing" provided, Russia "needed to drag Crimea out of that humiliating position". Putin further alleged a "genocide" by Ukraine against the people of Donbas, before quoting the Bible's "no greater love" passage from John 15. Finally, Putin noted that Fyodor Ushakov's birthday was 24 February, the same date that the invasion of Ukraine was launched in 2022.{{cite web |title=Concert marking the anniversary of Crimea's reunification with Russia |url=http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/68016 |publisher=Kremlin |access-date=19 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319033406/http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/68016 |archive-date=19 March 2022 |date=March 18, 2022}} Part of his televised speech on Russia-24 was interrupted by a technical problem.{{Cite news |last= |date=2022-03-18 |title=Putin vows Russia will prevail in Ukraine but glitch hinders TV |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/putin-hails-russias-special-operation-ukraine-thousands-packed-stadium-2022-03-18/ |access-date=2022-03-18 |archive-date=2022-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318144143/https://www.reuters.com/world/putin-hails-russias-special-operation-ukraine-thousands-packed-stadium-2022-03-18/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Vasilyeva |first=Nataliya |date=2022-03-18 |title=Russian TV cuts off Vladimir Putin mid-speech during major Moscow rally |language=en-GB |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/03/18/russian-tv-cuts-vladimir-putin-mid-speech-major-moscow-rally/ |access-date=2022-03-18 |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=2022-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318165258/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/03/18/russian-tv-cuts-vladimir-putin-mid-speech-major-moscow-rally/ |url-status=live }}

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a video message released on 19 March, mentioned the rally:{{cite web |last1=Zelenskyy |first1=Volodymyr |title=Meaningful talks on peace and security for Ukraine are the only chance for Russia to reduce the damage from its own mistakes |url=https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/zmistovni-peregovori-pro-mir-i-bezpeku-dlya-ukrayini-yedinij-73661 |publisher=President of Ukraine |access-date=19 March 2022 |date=March 19, 2022 |archive-date=19 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319001429/https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/zmistovni-peregovori-pro-mir-i-bezpeku-dlya-ukrayini-yedinij-73661 |url-status=live }}

{{blockquote|Many words were heard in Moscow today in connection with the anniversary of the seizure of Crimea. A big rally took place. And I want to pay attention to one detail. It is reported that a total of about 200,000 people were involved in the rally in the Russian capital. 100,000 on the streets, about 95,000 at the stadium. Approximately the same number of Russian troops were involved in the invasion of Ukraine. Just imagine 14,000 corpses and tens of thousands of wounded and maimed people at that stadium in Moscow. There are already so many Russian losses as a result of this invasion. This is the price of war. In a little more than three weeks. The war must end.}}

Putin's remarks made references to Bible passages and Russian military history, which was seen as reflecting a broader pattern of the leader using religion and history to help form a Russian nationalist identity.{{cite news |last=Cara |first=Anna |date=18 March 2022 |title=Putin praises troops at Moscow rally as Russia continues attack in Ukraine |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/putin-praises-troops-at-moscow-rally-as-russia-continues-attack-in-ukraine |work=PBS |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=8 April 2022 |archive-date=8 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408222956/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/putin-praises-troops-at-moscow-rally-as-russia-continues-attack-in-ukraine |url-status=live }} Conservative U.S. political commentator Sean Hannity, a supporter of former U.S. president Donald Trump, said that the rally appeared to be used by Putin for "channeling his inner Donald Trump," while the liberal HuffPost described the rally as "terrifying" and "ominous" and said that Putin was "in full dictator mode."{{cite news |last=Pengelly |first=Martin |date=19 March 2022 |title=Putin 'channeling his inner Trump' at Moscow rally, says Sean Hannity |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/mar/19/vladimir-putin-donald-trump-rally-sean-hannity |work=The Guardian |location=London, United Kingdom |access-date=8 April 2022 |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413011830/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/mar/19/vladimir-putin-donald-trump-rally-sean-hannity |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Nicholson |first=Kate |date=18 March 2022 |title=Putin In Full Dictator Mode During Terrifying Rally In Moscow |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/vladimir-putin-rally-russia-crimea-ukraine-invasion_uk_62349884e4b0f1e82c491e4b |work=HuffPost |access-date=8 April 2022 |archive-date=8 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408222851/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/vladimir-putin-rally-russia-crimea-ukraine-invasion_uk_62349884e4b0f1e82c491e4b |url-status=live }} Putin also received criticism for wearing what appeared to be a US$13,000 Loro Piana parka.

The athletes were criticized in media outside of Russia for their participation in the rally.{{cite news |last=Keith |first=Braden |date=19 March 2022 |title=Russian Olympic Swimmer Rylov Appears At Large Pro-War Rally In Moscow |url=https://swimswam.com/russian-olympic-swimmer-rylov-appears-at-large-pro-war-rally-in-moscow/ |work=SwimSwam |location=Austin, Texas |access-date=26 March 2022 |archive-date=9 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409092225/https://swimswam.com/russian-olympic-swimmer-rylov-appears-at-large-pro-war-rally-in-moscow/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |author= |date=23 March 2022 |title=Russian Olympians face backlash after Vladimir Putin rally |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/russian-olympians-face-backlash-vladimir-putin-rally-83617760 |work=ABC News |access-date=26 March 2022 |archive-date=31 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331083848/https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/russian-olympians-face-backlash-vladimir-putin-rally-83617760 |url-status=live }} The Times described the athletes as "being paraded ... at the Luzhniki Stadium as the Russian president's warm-up act" at a "pro-war propaganda rally."{{cite news |last=Lord |first=Craig |date=23 March 2022 |title=Russian Olympic champion Evgeny Rylov faces ban after appearance at Putin rally |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/russian-olympic-champion-evgeny-rylov-faces-ban-after-appearance-at-putin-rally-tqjf5h7p5 |work=The Times |location=London, United Kingdom |access-date=26 March 2022 |archive-date=2 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402045633/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russian-olympic-champion-evgeny-rylov-faces-ban-after-appearance-at-putin-rally-tqjf5h7p5 |url-status=live }} Photographs posted to social media by some athletes blurred the "Z" symbols they had worn, which was interpreted as recognition of the war's lack of popularity amongst younger Russians.{{cite news |last=Pavitt |first=Michael |date=20 March 2022 |title=Kuliak set to face one-year ban over "Z" symbol podium display |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1120787/kuliak-faces-one-year-ban-gymnastics-z |work=Inside the Games |location=London, United Kingdom |access-date=26 March 2022 |archive-date=10 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410081953/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1120787/kuliak-faces-one-year-ban-gymnastics-z |url-status=live }} While some analysts believed athletes who wore the symbol could have been forced to participate, The Washington Post sports columnist Sally Jenkins contended that for the figure skaters in particular, "there's no extricating individual Russian skaters from [their participation], no matter how blameless some of them may be or how subject to coercion or censorship."{{cite news |last=Jenkins |first=Sally |date=24 March 2022 |title=Russians make figure skating better, but Putin has turned the sport into a battleground |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2022/03/24/russians-figure-skating-championships-putin/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=22 April 2022 |archive-date=24 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324120545/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2022/03/24/russians-figure-skating-championships-putin/ |url-status=live }}

Rylov's appearance resulted in a FINA investigation on the grounds of "bringing aquatic sports into disrepute" and the loss of his sponsorship contract with Speedo, which said it would donate the remainder of his funding to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.{{cite news |author= |date=23 March 2022 |title=Russian Olympians face backlash after attending Vladimir Putin rally |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/33576685/russian-olympians-face-backlash-attending-vladimir-putin-rally |work=ESPN |location=Bristol, Connecticut |access-date=26 March 2022 |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413131248/https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/33576685/russian-olympians-face-backlash-attending-vladimir-putin-rally |url-status=live }} The investigation resulted in Rylov receiving a personal nine-month ban from all FINA competitions and activities effective 20 April 2022, making his ban 20 days longer than the general ban on Russian and Belarusian swimmers through the end of 2022.{{cite news |author= |date=22 April 2022 |title=Russian Olympic gold medallist banned for supporting Ukraine invasion |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/sports-life/russian-olympic-gold-medallist-banned-for-supporting-ukraine-invasion/news-story/0d24a5e696ff17ddf91b0a1278db5405 |work=news.com.au |location=Sydney, Australia |access-date=22 April 2022 |archive-date=23 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423221115/https://www.news.com.au/sport/sports-life/russian-olympic-gold-medallist-banned-for-supporting-ukraine-invasion/news-story/0d24a5e696ff17ddf91b0a1278db5405 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Will |date=22 April 2022 |title=Russian Olympic winner who claimed to be swimming's biggest star is banned from the sport for attending pro-war rally |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/russian-olympic-winner-claimed-swimmings-110022555.html |work=Yahoo! Sports |location=New York, New York |access-date=22 April 2022 |archive-date=22 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422170324/https://sports.yahoo.com/russian-olympic-winner-claimed-swimmings-110022555.html |url-status=live }} Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, Russian Olympic Committee president Stanislav Pozdnyakov, and Russian sports minister Oleg Matytsin each denounced the ban, calling it discriminatory, politicized, and "contrary to the ideas of sport."{{cite news |author= |date=22 April 2022 |title=FINA suspends Olympic champion Rylov for nine months over Putin rally |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/fina-suspends-olympic-champion-rylov-nine-months-over-putin-rally-2022-04-22/ |work=Reuters |location=London, United Kingdom |access-date=22 April 2022 |archive-date=22 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422083033/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/fina-suspends-olympic-champion-rylov-nine-months-over-putin-rally-2022-04-22/ |url-status=live }}

Ukrainian athletes directly criticized Russian athletes for their participation. Ukrainian gymnast and Olympic medallist Oleg Verniaiev criticized Kuliak for attending and for wearing an Olympic medal he had not earned himself. Ukrainian world-record swimmer Andriy Govorov described seeing his friend Rylov attending the rally and wearing a "Z" symbol as "heartbreaking." Ukrainian ice dancers Oleksandra Nazarova and Maksym Nikitin criticized the figure skaters for their participation, saying that "Not so long ago we supported them in this difficult Olympic season, now they support the war against us and our country."

The Latvian government banned performers who participated in the rally from entering the country.{{cite web |title=25 Russian citizens blacklisted in Latvia for war propaganda |url=https://bnn-news.com/25-russian-citizens-blacklisted-in-latvia-for-war-propaganda-233393 |website=Baltic News Network |publisher=LETA |access-date=16 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409105914/https://bnn-news.com/25-russian-citizens-blacklisted-in-latvia-for-war-propaganda-233393 |archive-date=9 April 2022 |date=24 March 2022 |url-status=live}}

Historian Niall Ferguson described the rally as "fascistic".{{cite news |last1=Ferguson |first1=Niall |title=Putin Misunderstands History. So, Unfortunately, Does the U.S. |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-03-22/niall-ferguson-putin-and-biden-misunderstand-history-in-ukraine-war |access-date=31 July 2022 |publisher=Bloomberg |date=22 March 2022}}

{{Portal|Politics|Russia}}

• Denazification
• Nuremberg rallies
• World Without Nazism
• 2022 Moscow Victory Day Parade
• 2023 Moscow rally

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{{Vladimir Putin}}

{{2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine}}

Category:Vladimir Putin

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Category:Events in Moscow

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Category:Propaganda in Russia related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

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