Central Asian leaders to skip Moscow Victory Day parade

According to TASS, this year’s guest list is notably shorter than in previous years, with no heads of state from Central Asian nations currently scheduled to participate.

The list of confirmed attendees includes Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith. They will be joined by Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, the latter of whom reportedly plans to lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier but may not attend the parade itself.

Representatives from the Republika Srpska (within Bosnia and Herzegovina) are also expected, including President Siniša Karan and Speaker of the National Assembly Nenad Stevandić. Additionally, Badra Gunba and Alan Gagloev – the leaders of the unrecognized regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia – are on the roster.

The 2026 parade will follow a reduced format. Citing the "operational situation," Russian authorities have opted to exclude heavy military equipment from the procession. The event will focus primarily on foot formations and limited hardware.