Putin and Stalin fit right in at the “Immortal Regiment” event in Boston

Participants of the “Immortal Regiment” event in Boston. Photo: Arts Against Aggression
Putin and Stalin fit right in at the “Immortal Regiment” event in Boston


As the Russian-organized "Immortal Regiment" marches took place around the globe on 9 May, provoking accusations of being Kremlin propaganda playing its part in Russia's hybrid war against Ukraine, some fell prey to puns. Here we offer an account of the march in Boston, USA, by the activist group Arts Against Aggression, who boycott performances of Russian musicians supporting the Kremlin's policy in Ukraine.

With Russian mercenaries killed in Ukraine set to be honored at the Moscow "Immortal Regiment" event, Putin and Stalin fit right in at the same event in Boston.

In just over a month organizers of the "Immortal Regiment" project in Boston managed to raise about $800 on GoFundMe. Most of that amount was furnished by several anonymous donors who chose not to disclose their names.

Related: Russia's exported "Immortal Regiment" marches accused of being part of hybrid war against Ukraine

Informational support was promised by the Russian Ministry of Defense-run TV network "Zvezda". Identical and coordinated clone events happened all across North America.

Organizers of the Boston event say that the money went to printing banners and posters, and to purchase flags, snacks, etc. Event's Facebook page offered assistance in providing all participants with photographs and posters.

Invitation to participate in this event generated a highly ambivalent reaction among Russian-speaking Boston residents. Lively discussion in various Facebook groups touched upon the question of why the event suddenly requires fundraising, given that in its original incarnation it involved participants bringing photographs of their loved ones and did not necessitate any centralized printing.

Participants of the "Immortal Regiment" event in Boston. Photo: Arts Against Aggression
Participants of the "Immortal Regiment" event in Boston. Photo: Arts Against Aggression

It was suggested that the funds would be better spent on sponsoring a party for the veterans who currently reside in assisted living facilities in the greater Boston area, and that would-be participants should consider visiting these veterans instead of taking part in the march.

However, organizers decided not to heed these suggestions, and on a rainy morning more than 100 participants in the "Immortal Regiment" gathered in the heart of Boston.

Members of the group "Arts Against Aggression" also took part in the march. An "Arts Against Aggression" activist dressed as Putin, and holding a photograph of Stalin emblazoned with the slogan "Thanks to Grandpa for the Victory," did not raise any eyebrows among the event participants.

A man dressed as Putin carries portrait of Stalin at the "Immortal Regiment" procession in Boston, USA. Photo: Arts against Aggression
A man dressed as Putin carries portrait of Stalin at the "Immortal Regiment" procession in Boston, USA. Photo: Arts against Aggression

Members of Arts Against Aggression proceeded directly from the march to Cutler Majestic Theater, where, as part of the ArtWeek Boston 2017 festival they conducted a temporary installation titled "The cost of Putin's hybrid war."

Installation titled "The cost of Putin's hybrid war"
Installation titled "The cost of Putin's hybrid war"

Related: “Immortal regiment” march in Toronto – shameful display of Russian propaganda

The installation represents millions of victims of Putin’s hybrid war, and it is a preview of what is likely to greet Putin's accomplices in front of their Boston venue when they arrive for their scheduled concert in June. Emerson College Cutler Majestic Theater is set to host two big name signatories to the infamous letter of Russian cultural figures in support of Putin's policies in Ukraine and Crimea - Vladimir Spivakov and Hibla Gerzmava.

To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here

You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

Please leave your suggestions or corrections here



    Leave a Reply
    Euromaidan Press

    We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself. We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain. Therefore, we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker. Your assistance helps us continue providing quality content. Thank you!

    Related Posts

    February 24: In Debalceve all “red lines” were once again crossed by Russia

    February 24 – 1 Ukrainian military was killed and 7 were injured in the ATO area in the last 24 hours, – informed NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko.

    February 24 – Prosecutor General of Ukraine is preparing to charge twenty employees of Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) with organizing and participating in mass shootings of protesters during the Revolution of Dignity (in Ukraine) in February 2014.

    February 24 – Terrorists are transferring military machinery and manpower closer to Mariupol direction, – said NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko.

    February 24 – If Mariupol is seized, this could become the last psychological barrier needed by the West to change its policies and would mean the death of armistice agreements, – said Marshal of the Sejm of Poland Radoslaw Sikorski, reports Newsweek Polska.

    February 24 – At a meeting of the State Council of Defence of Lithuania it has been decided to initiate a return to compulsory military service. Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite has compulsory military service may be needed due to changes in the region's geopolitical situation.

    February 24 – Poland has sent a note to the Russian Foreign Ministry with a request to provide the wreckage of Tu-154 M, which "crashed" near Smolensk in April 2010. Polish President Lech Kaczynski and almost the entire political elite of Poland were killed in this airplane crash.

    February 24 – Ukraine believes that it is necessary to reform the UN Security Council considering the fact that a member of the Security Council is now an aggressor, – stated Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesman Yevhen Perebiynis at a briefing, when commenting on the situation with Russia frequently blocking decisions on Ukraine.

    February 24 – In Paris, foreign ministers of "Normandy Four" have failed to reach an agreement regarding the situation in Debaltseve, – informed Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin after the meeting, reports BBC: "Unfortunately, there was no political decision on how to regard what happened in Debaltseve".

    February 24 – "Novaya Gazeta" newspaper has published a summary of the document describing Kremlin's scenario on events in Ukraine. The document contains a phased plan of dismantling Ukraine as a state. The text has been made public on newspaper's website. When planning a war in Ukraine, Putin's entourage hoped to start dismantling Ukraine from Crimea and Kharkiv oblasts, not Donetsk. The document was presented to Putin between February 4 and 12, 2014 – before Yanukovych fled to Russia.

    February 24 – Official Kyiv is appealing to the international community to formulate new sanctions against Russia for not fulfilling the Minsk agreements – speaker of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Yevhen Perebyinis: "By their actions Russia is demonstrating that it has no intentions of fulfilling the Minsk Agreements, in particular, to immediately remove, as it is stipulated by the agreement, their soldiers and artillery from the territory of Ukraine. In this situation we are convinced, that in the world community there remains no other choice than to force Russia towards peace by creating new, more active restrictive efforts."

    According to him, "all" "red lines" were once again crossed by Russia, and therefore stopping Kremlin is only possible through immediate consolidated acts of the whole civilized world."

    As is known, after the signature of the Minsk Agreement of February 12th, the fighters did not stop the firing and took over Debaltseve, left by the Ukrainian army. Also Russia decided to "exclude from the Minsk Agreement" the release of the captured by it, Nadiya Savchenko, by which it invoked indignation in Ukraine. Nadiaya Savchenko is presently in her 74th day of a hunger strike.

    What has happened to Colonel Mamchur

    P.S.: Please spread this appeal as much as possible.

    Ads are disabled for Euromaidan patrons.

    Support us on Patreon for an ad-free experience.

    Already with us on Patreon?

    Enter the code you received on Patreon or by email to disable ads for 6 months

    Invalid code. Please try again

    Code successfully activated

    Ads will be hidden for 6 months.