Young Russians should view the Victory Day Parade as a warning rather than a celebration

My generation should be asking questions, debating and searching for truth. Instead, resentful people watch the military parade and re-runs of the Soviet war films.

By Jana Bakunina

On 9 May – the Victory Day, as it is known in Russia – which commemorates the end of World War Two, I was looking through my Russian friends’ Facebook posts. Many shared photos of their grandparents, who fought in the war, inspired by the new tradition of “Immortal Regiment”, a peaceful march where ordinary Russians carry photos of war veterans.

This year, the “Immortal Regiment” spread internationally with Russian expats marching in Prague, Jerusalem, New York, Toronto and even Brisbane. On Facebook, friends shared greetings, lyrics from old Soviet songs and happy memories about their grandfathers.