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For the first time in six years, the “Immortal Regiment” [Безсмертний полк – UT] action of russian vatniks [russian warm cotton wool–padded jacket, which became a meme designating russian chauvinists], nostalgic for the USSR, took place in Washington, Iryna Herashchenko, MP from the European Solidarity, writes.
Officially permitted by the authorities, under the protection of local police, with a separate street for the procession. Formally, it is a memorial march with portraits of relatives who were part of the Red Army. But in fact, it is a russian propaganda, with St. George ribbons and putin. A symbolic reincarnation of the “russian world” at the center of world democracy. This became possible not only due to the persistence of pro-russian groups, but also due to the obvious weakening of the US foreign policy towards russia.
Until recently, such actions were impossible in Washington. They were banned, first because of COVID-19, and then because of russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. But this year the barrier fell. The rhetoric of “ceasefire at any cost,” “war fatigue,” and attempts to push Ukraine to make concessions — all this is activating russians abroad who were silenced during the war. russia is once again filling the West with its own symbols, messages, and myths, and the “Immortal Regiment” in Washington is a manifestation of this victory frenzy.
This is not about memory, but about revanche, the whitewashing of modern russian fascism, which the kremlin masks as “anti-fascist rhetoric.”
We thank the Ukrainian community, which on May 3 in Washington held a counter-event in response to the “Immortal Regiment” march. The pro-Ukrainian action was organized by the Ukrainian Cultural Front DC together with the Ukrainian American Community of the District of Columbia.
Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine came out with posters “Never Again?” and “The world sees russia’s crimes — Do you?” — reminding: the memory of the victory over fascism cannot be a tool for justifying new aggression. The role of Ukrainians in the victory over fascism in World War II was significant. The russian army today kills children in Mariupol, rapes in Bucha, kidnaps in Kherson. And all this — under the same flag and St. George ribbon with which the members of the “Immortal Regiment” march.
We await the reaction of the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington and our diaspora organizations, in particular the Ukrainian World Congress, with a protest against the legalization of russian propaganda in the West.
