Victory Day

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan marked the Aug. 30 Victory Day with a message of congratulations, vowing to bolster the nation's strength through forthcoming initiatives.

Moldova has started the process of rebranding Victory Day amid protests on Thursday in front of the parliament building in the capital Chisinau.

Several dozen people protested in front of the parliament with Soviet-era and Russian flags after the pro-European governing party, Action and Solidarity, PAS, put a draft bill on parliament's agenda.

Several thousand people in Moldova's capital Chisinau took part in an "Immortal Regiment" march on Monday, organised by the pro-Russian Socialist Party, PSRM, many of them breaking a new law that bans the display of symbols glorifying the former Soviet communist regime.

On August 5, Croatia marks its Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders with an annual celebration in the southern town of Knin.

The pro-Russian President of Moldova, Igor Dodon, and supporters of the Socialist Party on Thursday led a march to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Red Army victory over Nazi Germany and the end of World War II.

"It must be an equal celebration for everybody. Victory Day is a celebration of all citizens in Moldova," Dodon said.

A wreath laying ceremony was held in observance of May 9 at the Monument to the WWII Homeland Heroes, near the "Carol I" National Defense University in Bucharest, attended by Defense Minister Gabriel Les and acting Justice Minister Ana Birchall.

Turkey commemorated the 96th anniversary of the War of Independence on Aug. 30 Victory Day with celebrations, as politicians marked the day's importance and stressed their determination in protecting Turkey's independence.

Russia celebrated its 72nd Victory Day in commemoration of the defeat of the invading Nazi forces in the second world war on May 9, with its annual military parade in Moscow’s Red Square. Before Russian President Vladimir Putin, tens of thousands of military personnel marched in unison, while some of the latest high tech army hardware were put on display.

The Serbian Army on Tuesday presenting some of its capabilities and new weapons, as part of celebrations to mark Army Day, and Victory Day over fascism in WW2.

Russia has started celebrating Victory Day - the anniversary of victory over fascism in WW2 - with a military parade in Moscow.

The message from Red Square this morning is that "there was, there is, and there will be no force that could ever enslave the Russians."