Location:  Throughout Russia

Event:  Various organizations are planning to hold rallies, marches, protests, and parades throughout Russia starting on May 1^st through May 9^th.  According to media reports, the following events are planned:

Tuesday, May 1^st (May Day)

• Moscow – Organized trade unions have five approved rallies scheduled to take place in Moscow from 1100 to 1500 hours, at Kaluzhskaya Square, Bolshaya Yakimanka, Bolshaya Polyanka, Mokhovaya, Maly and Bolshoi Kamenny Most bridges, Okhotny Ryad, and Theater Square.
• Vladivostok – The communist party will hold a protest march and rally in the Central Square.  The march will begin at the Dalzavod bus stop.

Saturday, May 5^th

• Moscow — An unapproved opposition march is scheduled to take place along Tverskaya Street (from Belorusskaya Square to Okhotny Ryad).

Sunday, May 6^th

• Moscow — An unapproved opposition protest is scheduled to take place at Revolution Square.

May 7^th (Inauguration Day)_

• Moscow — The Presidential Inauguration will take place in the Kremlin.

Victory Day (May 9^th) Parade and Rehearsals

 Petersburg — A large military parade will take place on Palace Square

• Yekaterinburg — A military parade will commence at 10:00am along Lenina Street – from the intersection of Moskovskaya, and up to K.Libkhnekhta Streets. Expect road closures, crowds, and police presence throughout central Yekaterinburg all day and up to 100,000 participants.  Fireworks are expected upon conclusion, at 10:30pm.
• Moscow — A large military parade will take place in Moscow. Additionally, dress rehearsals for the parade began this week and will continue to impact central Moscow until the early morning hours of May 10^th.  Traffic will be restricted along Tverskaya Street and the surrounding areas on the evening hours of April 26^th, May 3^rd, May 6^th, and all day on May 9^th.  Red Square and the Kremlin embankment will also be closed at night on April 26^th, May 3^rd, and May 6^th.  Additional street closures will include Novinsky Boulevard and Novy Arbat on days that the heavy vehicles are being staged.
• Vladivostok — A military parade will take place beginning at 10:00 am at the intersection of Aleutskaya and Svetlanskaya streets.

U.S. citizens should be prepared for:

• Large crowds
• Disruptions to public transportation services;
• Traffic delays due to street closures;
• Overt police presence

Actions To Take:

• Avoid the areas of the demonstrations. Mass arrests of bystanders have occurred at past demonstrations.
• Carry your passport or another official form of identification at all times, Russian police officers have the right to conduct identification checks at any time
• Exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests.
• Monitor local media for updates.
• Keep a low profile.

For Assistance:

U.S. Embassy Moscow, Russia

• +(7) (495) 728-5577
• Afterhours – +(7) (495) 728-5000
• moscowacs@state.gov
• Website – S. EmbassyMoscow

U.S. Consulate General Yekaterinburg

• +7 (343) 379-3001
• Afterhours – +7 (917) 569-3549
• ConsulYekat@state.gov
• Website – S. Consulate General Yekaterinburg

U.S. Consulate General Vladivostok

• +7 (423) 230-0070
• Afterhours – +7 (914) 791-0067
• vladcons@state.gov
• Website – S. Consulate General Vladivostok

State Department – Consular Affairs

• 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444

Russia Country Information

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By U.S. Mission Russia | 26 April, 2018 | Topics: Alert