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Putin and Stalin fit right in at the “Immortal Regiment” event in Boston

byCivic Sector Organizations

11/05/2017

3 minute read

Participants of the “Immortal Regiment” event in Boston. Photo: Arts Against Aggression

Putin and Stalin fit right in at the “Immortal Regiment” event in Boston

Article by: Arts Against Aggression

As the Russian-organized “Immortal Regiment” marches took place around the globe on 9 May, provoking accusations of being Kremlin propaganda playing its part in Russia’s hybrid war against Ukraine, some fell prey to puns. Here we offer an account of the march in Boston, USA, by the activist group Arts Against Aggression, who boycott performances of Russian musicians supporting the Kremlin’s policy in Ukraine.

With Russian mercenaries killed in Ukraine set to be honored at the Moscow “Immortal Regiment” event, Putin and Stalin fit right in at the same event in Boston.

In just over a month organizers of the “Immortal Regiment” project in Boston managed to raise about $800 on GoFundMe. Most of that amount was furnished by several anonymous donors who chose not to disclose their names.

Informational support was promised by the Russian Ministry of Defense-run TV network “Zvezda”. Identical and coordinated clone events happened all across North America.

Organizers of the Boston event say that the money went to printing banners and posters, and to purchase flags, snacks, etc. Event’s Facebook page offered assistance in providing all participants with photographs and posters.

Invitation to participate in this event generated a highly ambivalent reaction among Russian-speaking Boston residents. Lively discussion in various Facebook groups touched upon the question of why the event suddenly requires fundraising, given that in its original incarnation it involved participants bringing photographs of their loved ones and did not necessitate any centralized printing.

Participants of the "Immortal Regiment" event in Boston. Photo: Arts Against Aggression — Participants of the “Immortal Regiment” event in Boston. Photo: Arts Against Aggression

It was suggested that the funds would be better spent on sponsoring a party for the veterans who currently reside in assisted living facilities in the greater Boston area, and that would-be participants should consider visiting these veterans instead of taking part in the march.

However, organizers decided not to heed these suggestions, and on a rainy morning more than 100 participants in the “Immortal Regiment” gathered in the heart of Boston.

Members of the group “Arts Against Aggression” also took part in the march. An “Arts Against Aggression” activist dressed as Putin, and holding a photograph of Stalin emblazoned with the slogan “Thanks to Grandpa for the Victory,” did not raise any eyebrows among the event participants.

A man dressed as Putin carries portrait of Stalin at the "Immortal Regiment" procession in Boston, USA. Photo: Arts against Aggression — A man dressed as Putin carries portrait of Stalin at the “Immortal Regiment” procession in Boston, USA. Photo: Arts against Aggression

Members of Arts Against Aggression proceeded directly from the march to Cutler Majestic Theater, where, as part of the ArtWeek Boston 2017 festival they conducted a temporary installation titled “The cost of Putin’s hybrid war.”

Installation titled "The cost of Putin's hybrid war" — Installation titled “The cost of Putin’s hybrid war”

The installation represents millions of victims of Putin’s hybrid war, and it is a preview of what is likely to greet Putin’s accomplices in front of their Boston venue when they arrive for their scheduled concert in June. Emerson College Cutler Majestic Theater is set to host two big name signatories to the infamous letter of Russian cultural figures in support of Putin’s policies in Ukraine and Crimea – Vladimir Spivakov and Hibla Gerzmava.

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January 12: Interpol has announced that former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, and several other former Ukrainian officials are now wanted persons

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January 12 – No Ukrainian military were killed in the ATO area in the last 24 hours, – said NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko. The terrorists, however, have carried out 63 attacks on Ukrainian military and civilian sites.

January 12 – Interpol has announced that former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, and several other former Ukrainian officials are now wanted persons. Earlier on, Edward Stavytskyy, Serhiy Kurchenko, Serhiy Arbuzov, Olexandr Klymenko, Andriy Ignatov, Olexandr Dynnyk have also been announces as wanted persons. Instead, Russia is ignoring all requests by Ukraine regarding the search for these criminals.

January 12 – US Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt believes that Russian terrorists are trying to move the dividing line between Ukrainian army and terrorists, which was agreed upon in Minsk.

January 12 – Special agents of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) have detained a young girl who worked as a sniper and is suspected to have killed at least 10 Ukrainian military. Within social networks she is known as Anastasia Voroshylova, aka "Ekstezi". Some of the networks provide a different name for this girl. Apparently she received photos of Ukrainian officers whom she was supposed to kill from her superiors. She confessed that she and other girls from her unit were trained in Krasnodar and recruited by Russian Federal Security Service. Angelina Sambur, another girl from Anastasia's unit who is also a fellow student, confessed via social networks that she is also a sniper.

January 12 – Ukraine is ready to grant Donbas a status of special economic zone under a special relations format with the EU and Russia, – said President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in an interview France 24. In order to be able to do this, legitimate elections according to Ukrainian laws should take place and local governments should be elected.

January 12 – President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed an Order "Strategy of Constant Development: Ukraine – 2020", which demarcates the basic directions of the development of the country. "Strategy – 2020" includes in it 62 reforms. Priority is given to 8 reforms and 2 programs. 25 key indicators of the success of the development of the country are specified. Primary specified reforms are those of the system of national security and defense, the renewal of government and an anti-corruption reform, judicial and human rights reforms, the decentralization and reform of state management, deregulation and development of entrepeneurship, reform of health care and tax reform. Among the priorities is also the realization of two programs – energy independence and the popularization of Ukraine in the world through advocating the interests of the nation on the world-wide informational network.

Official Interpol page

YANUKOVYCH, VIKTOR WANTED BY THE JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES OF UKRAINE FOR PROSECUTION / TO SERVE A SENTENCE

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