Sunday, August 2, 2015, marks the 85th anniversary of Paratroopers’ Day in Russia. The event will be celebrated in Moscow and throughout the country. Current and former paratroopers will wear their uniforms (light blue berets and light blue and white striped shirts), sing patriotic songs, and toast their organization and its legacy.
In Moscow, the holiday will be marked with a ceremony at Poklonnaya Gora in Victory Park. Other locations for commemorative gatherings include Alexandrovsky Garden, Gorky Park, Kievskaya Square, Pushkinskaya Square, Red Square, Victory Park at Kutuzovsky Prospekt, the VVC Exhibition Center, and local markets. To help maintain public order this year, the Moscow City Police plan to deploy 2,000 extra officers in parks throughout the city where large numbers of Paratroopers typically gather.
In Saint Petersburg, the official celebration will take place in Palace Square. Large gatherings are also expected in the Field of Mars and Primorskiy Park Pobedy. In addition, Milionnaya Street from Palace Square to the Field of Mars will be closed from 12:30 to 13:30 on August 2.
In Yekaterinburg, the official celebration will take place during the afternoon around the area of the Sports Palace (DIVS), located at 10 Eremina Street (near the Dinamo Metro Station). Large gatherings are also expected at the Mayakovskogo Central Park (TsPKiO), located at 230 Michurina Street.
Although the majority of these gatherings are expected to be peaceful, past celebrations have witnessed incidents of violence, some of which were directed against foreigners, particularly Central Asians and those from the Caucasus region. Brawls and other incidents of public disorder, often fueled by the consumption of alcohol, have also been reported during previous Paratroopers’ Day celebrations.
The U.S. citizen community should exercise caution when in or near public parks and the locations listed above on Paratroopers’ Day. U.S. citizens should avoid all public demonstrations, whether properly authorized by local officials or not, and avoid any large crowds and public gatherings that lack enhanced security measures. As with all large gatherings, citizens are urged to review your personal security plans, maintain a low-profile, remain aware of your surroundings, including local events, and monitor local news stations for updates. Maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security.
For more information:
- See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country-Specific Information Sheet for the Russian Federation.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Contact the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, located at 21 Novinsky Blvd. in Moscow, at +7 (495) 728-5577, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays or by e-mail at moscowwarden@state.gov or visit the Embassy website at https://ru.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/. After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is +7 (495) 728 5000 after 6:00 p.m. and on weekends and holidays.
- U.S. Consulate General St. Petersburg:
The U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg is located at 15 Furshatskaya Street, Tel: +7 (812) 331-2600. You may contact the Consulate’s ACS unit by e-mail at StPetersburgACS@state.gov, or by fax at +7 (812) 331-2646, or visit the Consulate website. For after-hours emergencies, call +7 (812) 331-2600 and listen to the recorded message for the Duty Officer’s cell phone number. - U.S. Consulate General Vladivostok
The U.S. Consulate General is located at 32 Pushkinskaya Street, Vladivostok, Russia 690001, Tel.: +7 (423) 230-0070, fax: +7 (423) 230-0091, Emergency telephone: +7 (914) 791-0067 (24 hours)
E-mail: vladcons@state.gov - U.S. Consulate General Yekaterinburg:
The U.S. Consulate General in Yekaterinburg is located at 15 Gogolya Street, Tel: +7 (343) 793-001. You may contact the Consulate’s ACS Unit by e-mail at ConsulYekat@state.gov or by fax at +7 (343) 379-4515, or visit the Consulate’s website at https://ru.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/yekaterinburg/.
For after-hours emergencies, you may call the Duty Officer at +7 (917) 569-3549. - Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
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