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70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany

Czech president decides not to attend military parade during his visit to Mosccow — source

Czech President Milos Zeman will lay a wreath at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier

Czech President Milos Zeman AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Czech President Milos Zeman

© AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

PRAGUE, April 10. /TASS/. Czech President Milos Zeman is due to pay a working visit to Moscow on May 8-10 and take part in celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the Victory.

"The head of state will not attend the military parade on the Red Square. He will lay a wreath at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier," a source close to the Czech Republic’s leader told TASS.

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"Zeman believes his participation in the Moscow celebrations is necessary," the source stressed. "He plans to honor the memory of the Soviet soldiers who gave their lives to liberate Czechoslovakia from fascism," he said.

The Czech president has taken the decision not to attend the parade independently, the source said.

In Moscow, Zeman is due to meet with Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico. This meeting will "symbolize the fine relations between the Czechs and Slovaks who were liberated by the Red Army from Hitler’s forces 70 years ago."

Meanwhile, the Slovak government’s press service has yet not confirmed the plans for the meeting between Zeman and Fico in Moscow.

Zeman’s possible attendance of the Victory Parade has drawn criticism of the Christian Democrats in the republic’s government and the political opposition. Prague stresses that all the objections against the visit should be withdrawn now.

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Rehearsal of Victory Day parade in Moscow

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Czech Republic Victory Day World War II 70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany

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