Mexican fans cancel Red Square 'Day of the Dead' parade after complaints
A participant with a face painted as popular Mexican figure "Catrina" attends the Day of the Dead event at a National house for Mexican fans in central Moscow, a host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Russia June 29, 2018. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Mexican soccer fans called off a Day of the Dead-themed parade in Moscow's Red Square on Friday after communist lawmakers objected to the event being held so close to Lenin's tomb.
A carnival atmosphere has taken over parts of the capital as thousands of fans pack to watch the soccer World Cup.
Mexican fans - whose team is one of the 16 to make it through to the knock-out stages - had planned a party in the zone set aside for them in the city, followed by a street parade to Red Square several hundred metres away.
Artists perform during the Day of the Dead festivities at the Mexican fan house in central Moscow, a host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Russia June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
But one of the organisers said they were told by authorities after midday on Friday to hold the parade and event indoors, declining to explain why.
Sergei Malinkovich, deputy head of the Communists of Russia party, said people dressed as skeletons - one of the traditional symbols of the Mexican annual holiday at which families honour their dead loved ones - should not be allowed to march on what his party has called "hallowed" ground.
"Why should we have some kind of skulls there?" Malinkovich said.
Participants wearing costumes perform during the Day of the Dead event at a National house for Mexican fans in central Moscow, a host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Russia June 29, 2018. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin
The body of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin lies embalmed in a marble tomb on the square and Soviet leaders and dignitaries are buried in the Kremlin walls.
Malinkovich's party had appealed to the Interior Ministry to stop fans holding the parade, he said, arguing it could provoke violent clashes with Russian patriots.
"Russian people on the square would almost certainly have tried to stop them. There would have been conflicts to say the least, and perhaps clashes," he said.
A participant wearing a costume performs during the Day of the Dead event at a National house for Mexican fans in central Moscow, a host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Russia June 29, 2018. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin
The event - held four months before the actual celebrations in Mexico - was held in the fan area and was attended by several hundred revellers.
(Writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Participants wearing costumes attend the Day of the Dead event at a National house for Mexican fans in central Moscow, a host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Russia June 29, 2018. REUTERS/Sergei KarpukhinA participant wearing a costume poses for a photo with a visitor during the Day of the Dead event at a National house for Mexican fans in central Moscow, a host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Russia June 29, 2018. REUTERS/Sergei KarpukhinPeople get a make-up before taking part in the Day of the Dead event at a National house for Mexican fans in central Moscow, a host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Russia June 29, 2018. REUTERS/Sergei KarpukhinParticipants wearing costumes take a selfie as they attend the Day of the Dead event at a National house for Mexican fans in central Moscow, a host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Russia June 29, 2018. REUTERS/Sergei KarpukhinPeople get a make-up before taking part in the Day of the Dead event at a National house for Mexican fans in central Moscow, a host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Russia June 29, 2018. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
