A concert and rally took place on at

Luzhniki Stadium The Grand Sports Arena of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex, commonly known as Luzhniki Stadium, is the national stadium of Russia, located in its capital city, Moscow. Its total seating capacity of 78,011 makes it the List of football stadiums in R ...

in Moscow.

TASS The Russian News Agency TASS, or simply TASS, is a Russian state-owned news agency founded in 1904. It is the largest Russian news agency and one of the largest news agencies worldwide. TASS is registered as a Federal State Unitary Enterpri ...

reported that the rally commemorated

Defender of the Fatherland Day Defender of the Fatherland Day ( ''Den' zashchitnika Otechestva''; ; ; ; ) is a holiday observed in Russia, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. It is celebrated on 23 February, except in Kazakhstan, where it is celebra ...

. ''

Ukrainska Pravda ''Ukrainska Pravda'' is a Ukrainian socio-political online media outlet founded by Heorhii Gongadze in April 2000. After Gongadze’s death in September 2000, the editorial team was led by co-founder Olena Prytula, who remained the editor-in ...

'' stated that the date was selected in reference to the starting date of the

Russian invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, , starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, conflict between the two countries which began in 2014. The fighting has caused hundreds of thou ...

, . RBC reported that President

Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008. Putin also served as Prime Minister of Ru ...

was expected to make an appearance, and

RIA Novosti RIA Novosti (), sometimes referred to as RIAN () or RIA (), is a Russian state-owned domestic news agency. On 9 December 2013, by a decree of Vladimir Putin, it was liquidated and its assets and workforce were transferred to the newly created ...

reported that a parliamentary source stated that Putin would speak at the rally. ''Ukrainska Pravda'' added that historical exhibits and Russian military equipment would also be on display. ''

Argumenty i Fakty (, commonly abbreviated "АиФ" and translated as ''Arguments and Facts'') is a weekly newspaper based in Moscow and a publishing house in Russia and worldwide. Since 2014, it has been owned by the Government of Moscow. History and profile It ...

'' reported that around 200,000 people were expected to attend.

Radio Liberty Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a media organization broadcasting news and analyses in 27 languages to 23 countries across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. Headquartered in Prague since 1995, RFE/RL ...

stated that people were being offered 500 RUB to attend a rally in Moscow, and presumed that the offer was for this rally. ''

The Moscow Times ''The Moscow Times'' (''MT'') is an Amsterdam-based independent English-language and Russian-language online newspaper. It was in print in Russia from 1992 until 2017 and was distributed free of charge at places frequented by English-speaking to ...

'' stated that it had been reported that employees and students of

Moscow Polytechnic University Moscow Polytechnic University () or Moscow Polytech is a university in Moscow, Russia. It specializes in the field of automobile design Automotive design is the process of developing the appearance (and to some extent the ergonomics) of ...

were ordered to attend and, if possible, to bring friends and family. The Russian constitution requires the president to address the Federal Assembly annually. At the time the rally was scheduled, the last address Putin had delivered to the Federal Assembly was on . Putin is scheduled to address the assembly at Gostiny Dvor on , the day before the rally. RBC reported that the rally can be interpreted as an extension to the address.

Notes

References

{{Russian invasion of Ukraine

rally Rally or rallye may refer to: Gatherings * Political demonstration, a political rally, a political demonstration of support or protest, march, or parade * Pep rally, an event held at a North American school or college sporting event Sport ...

Moscow rally, 2023 rally, 2023 Moscow rally Events affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine Anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Russia Moscow rally, 2023 Propaganda in Russia related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

See also

Notes

References