MOSCOW, April 20. /TASS/. Israel will never back down on celebrating Victory Day on May 9, with it being an official holiday that is enshrined in law, the country’s Ambassador to Moscow Alexander Ben Zvi told TASS.
"Israel will never let it happen. We have this day as an official holiday, enshrined in law," he said, commenting on the refusal on the part of some countries to celebrate May 9. "There are many veterans in Israel, who have been looking forward to celebrating this day. This is a very emotional day for them. Israel has always celebrated May 9, and will always do so."
Earlier, the authorities in Latvia rushed to approve a bill making May 9 a day of commemoration for those who died in Ukraine. The Baltic nation’s parliament also voted for prohibiting mass events from being held in front of Soviet Army monuments on May 9. Also, Moldova’s parliament passed amendments to fine people for displaying or disseminating the St. George ribbon and for the use of the letters Z and V as special symbols.
According to earlier reports, a group of members from opposition parties in Georgia drafted a bill to amend the Labor Code moving the festivities to commemorate the Victory over Nazism from May 9 to May 8.