Immortal or No?

Russia's Immortal Regiment processions, in which citizens march in remembrance of veteran relatives, seems to be dying out amid a lack of official support.

The event began in 2012, organized by a group of Tomsk journalists to memorialize World War II veterans who were no longer able to march in Victory Day celebrations. Instead of veterans themselves marching, their children or relatives would march in their place, often displaying a photo or information about the veteran.

Demonstrations quickly spread to other regions, and Immortal Regiment marches became a common sight throughout Russia and even the Russian diaspora.

However, many marches were canceled or scaled back drastically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, security threats led to the cancellation of many demonstrations. And this year, many Victory Day celebrations were suspended wholesale, with authorities citing concerns stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Organizers now hope to rekindle the Immortal Regiment demonstrations and are urging schools and other institutions to take the lead.

At the same time, other displays of patriotism, those that are easier to control, are enjoying lots of official support.