The acting Moldovan President Mihai Ghimpu...
Russia will mark the 65th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany on May 9 with its biggest ever post-Soviet demonstration of military hardware. This year is the first time that troops from other countries will take part in the parade.
Kommersant daily said Ghumpu had previously accepted an invitation from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and said he would find time to participate in the events. But he changed his mind at the end of last week, despite concerns from other members of the Moldovan ruling coalition.
"I have no ties with Moscow. Only the victorious are going, what will the defeated do there?" he said on Moldovan TV, adding that participation of Moldovan troops in the parade would be enough.
Ghumpu has also said that the 70 Moldovan guards of honor due to take part in the parade are used to marching on asphalt rather than pavement, and so might lag behind the other columns or even faint if they took part in the parade.