Russian media report hundreds of thousands of people turned out across Russia and other former Soviet republics Sunday on the anniversary of the 1917 Bolshevik revolution, now called Reconciliation and Accord Day.
No major incidents were reported. Security was tight amid fears of attacks by Chechen separatist rebels, and to prevent clashes between groups with opposing political agendas.
In Moscow, several thousand Communist party members marched to protest a proposal to change the date of the former Revolution Day and rename it "National Unity Day." In Soviet times, Revolution Day was a highlight of political celebrations.
In Red Square in Moscow Sunday, aging World War II veterans paraded retracing the steps they took in 1941 as their German enemies massed near the Russian capital.
Some of this information provided by AP and AFP.