Moscow, May 8 (EFE).- The Kremlin has revoked the accreditation to the foreign media to cover the Victory Day parade, which takes place on Saturday in Red Square, journalists affected by the measure told EFE.
After accrediting the media, including Spanish, French, German, Italian and Japanese, Russian authorities withdrew permission to attend the event over alleged last-minute protocol changes.
It is the first time since the parade began that foreign media will not be allowed to attend the commemoration, which takes place every year on May 9.
On Thursday the general rehearsal was canceled, while earlier the authorities announced that heavy weapons will not be a part of the parade this year in the Red Square and in the streets of Moscow, which usually close for practice days before the celebration.
The authorities have also canceled the Immortal Regiment march, when relatives of veteran combatants walk holding portraits of their heroic relatives.
So far, 24 Russian cities have canceled the parades and another 27 will hold them in a reduced format.
Moreover, the Ministry of Digital Development reported that internet access and SMS services in Moscow will face restrictions on May 9 for security reasons.
Russia denounced on Friday that Ukraine did not join the unilateral 48-hour truce declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of his national celebration, having attacked military positions on the Russian front and territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy too had announced his own ceasefire from May 6 and accused Russia of not having supported it.
Russian authorities have threatened to attack Kyiv if Ukraine violates the May 9 ceasefire and advised civilians and foreign diplomatic personnel to leave the Ukrainian capital. EFE
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