Authorities Deny Permission For “Immortal Regiment” March In Minsk

Minsk city authorities have refused to allow organisers to hold the “Immortal Regiment” march in Minsk on May 9. The action’s “organising committee” said this on social media.

Instead of the march, organisers invited people to come with portraits of relatives to Victory Square to lay flowers.

“Due to the fact that the Minsk City Executive Committee did not permit the ‘Immortal Regiment’ march in the city of Minsk, we invite you on May 9, 2026, with portraits of your relatives — participants of the Great Patriotic War — to lay flowers at the Victory Monument and the Eternal Flame at Victory Square in Minsk. Gathering at the House-Museum of the First Congress of the RSDLP on May 9, 2026 at 11:30,” the statement said.

Earlier, pro-Russian activist Andrei Gerashchenko had asked for permission to hold “Immortal Regiment” marches in Belarusian cities.

“Due to the shared approach to preserving the memory of the Great Patriotic War, we appealed to the authorities of the Republic of Belarus with a request to allow Russian compatriots, citizens of Russia and willing Belarusians to hold an ‘Immortal Regiment’ march as part of the May 9, 2026 celebrations in Minsk, regional centres and major cities of the Republic of Belarus.

We believe that the ‘Immortal Regiment’ march should be an element of the nationwide campaign ‘Belarus Remembers’. The inclusion of ‘Immortal Regiment’ units in the ‘Belarus Remembers’ колонны confirms the unity of Russia and Belarus, Russians and Belarusians in marking Victory Day. The experience of such cooperation proved effective during the organisation of May 9 celebrations in 2024 and 2025,” he said.

It was also reported that an “Immortal Regiment” column in Brest will take place on May 9 as part of the “Belarus Remembers. We Remember Everyone” march.