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On May 9, Russia celebrated the “Day of Victory” over Nazi Germany with a large military parade in Moscow. A central holiday for the Russian population. Unlike in Europe, the day is not committed on May 8th – but on May 9th: The surrender of the Wehrmacht only came into force in Moscow after midnight.
Showdown on the Red Square
The parade is traditionally a massive demonstration of power with tanks, rockets and thousands of soldiers on the red. In the middle of the war against Ukraine, it serves the Kremlin as a propaganda instrument. As usual, ruler Vladimir Putin gave a speech, flanked by up to 30 heads of state and government, including China’s President Xi Jinping and Brazil’s head of state Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
While western heads of state avoid the event since the annexation of the Crimea, other guests are now coming to the fore: prominent supporters from Hollywood.
Hollywood in the service of the Kremlin
Above all, Steven Seagal, once action star of the 90s with films such as “Alarm level: red” (1992) or “Hard to Kill” (1990), today’s political mascot of the Kremlin. In 2016, Seagal personally received the Russian citizenship from Putin and later joined the “Just Russia” party. He has already been a guest of honor on official occasions. Its proximity to the power apparatus is no longer a secret and its place in the stands is accordingly safe.
Also present: director Oliver Stone, who noticed in red sunglasses and trench coat. His filmography includes “Wall Street” (2010), “Platoon” (1986) and “JFK: Tatort Dallas” (1991). In 2017, Stone published a controversial four -part interview series with Putin, which was celebrated in Russia, but was criticized in the West as propaganda. At that time, the Süddeutsche Zeitung spoke of a “autocrat porn” instead of serious documentation.