Russia celebrated Spring and Labor Day with marches, rallies, and public festivals. Millions of people all over the country took to the streets to celebrate Labor Day together. Trade unions and political parties had the biggest gatherings. For them, this day is a way to remind everyone of workers' rights once again.
Alexey Golovko has the details of Moscow in May.
From above, it looks incredible. There are over 100,000 people gathered at the May Day rally in the center of Moscow. People came to Red Square along with their colleagues. People brought their families and children.
"I want to demonstrate the unity of our people, that we're together".
Now, it even seems strange that a few years ago, the May Day rally wasn't being held. But the tradition was revived. From the Vasilevsky descent to the State Historical Museum, teachers, builders, railway workers, and miners march.
May Day is a unique holiday. It's been almost a century and a half since the workers in tsarist Russia began to gather on that day and assert their rights. Since then, times have changed, old professions have disappeared and new ones have appeared. But these three values "Peace, Labor, May!" remain forever.
Being in a good mood, no one forgets about the main slogan of the march: "For a Just Economy in the Interests of a Human Labor".
Mikhail Shmakov, President of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia: "We need to change this economic policy, indeed, in accordance with the presidential decrees as well. We need to build an economy that will be focused on human development or, as scientists say, on the development of human capital".
May Day is celebrated in over 100 countries. In Russia, the various political parties also join the celebrations. United Russia has a whole column on Red Square.
Andrey Isaev, First Deputy of the Chairman of the United Russia Party in the State Duma: "Today, perhaps the most important task is to stop the fall in wages and strive for an increase in pay. We're doing a lot for that".
Just Russia members gathered their supporters in Krasnaya Presnya Park. The party's leader is now in Volgograd, and he sent warm wishes to his fellow party members from there.
Sergey Mironov, A Just Russia Party: "We aren't afraid when they put pressure on us by imposing those sanctions. But we understand that no one except for us will solve our internal problems in Russia".
The march from Kaluzhskaya to Theater Square is the May Day demonstration of the Communists. The procession under the red flags is headed by Gennady Zyuganov.
Gennady Zyuganov, Communist Party: "The joint work of workers and peasants, teachers and scientists, engineers and servicemembers, can raise the country to new heights".
Vladimir Zhirinovsky talked mostly about Venezuela and world politics. But he didn't forget about the holiday.
Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Liberal Democratic Party: “In all countries of the world, it's considered to be a day of solidarity, spring, labor, and the struggle for peace. And it's still relevant today.”
For millions of people, demonstrations and rallies are just the beginning of the holiday. A long holiday is ahead.
Alexey Golovko, Maxim Shchepilov, Alexey Tabunkov, and Ivan Zamorin for Vesti.
Mass holiday rallies were held today in almost every region of the country.
Vladivostok. The procession was headed by a group of drummers. Even the rain didn't spoil the festive mood.
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In Naberezhnye Chelny, the rally was dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Kama Automobile Plant. A racing truck of the KAMAZ Master team and the mainline tow-car of the latest model drove along the street. The serial production of the latter has just begun.
In Simferopol, foreigners made a separate column. The majority of them are from Western countries. Each of them held a flag of their country. The slogan "No to NATO" united everyone.
In St. Petersburg, there were lots of balloons today. Many foreign tourists watched the procession. They came to the city for the May holiday.
