Dozens of Russian communists defied Moscow's coronavirus lockdown on Wednesday by marching across Red Square to lay flowers outside Vladimir Lenin's tomb to mark 150 years since the birth of the Bolshevik leader.
Francesca Lynagh reports.
Russian communists defy lockdown to honor Lenin's 150th
Dozens of Russian communists defied Moscow's social distancing measures on Wednesday (April 22) by marching across Red Square to lay flowers outside Vladimir Lenin's tomb.
The ritual marked 150 years since the birth of the Bolshevik leader... and was led by the head of Russia's Communist Party during Moscow's fourth week of lockdown.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) LEADER OF RUSSIAN COMMUNIST PARTY, GENNADIY ZYUGANOV, SAYING: "Under his (Lenin's) rule the best institutions were founded, now they help us fight all sorts of diseases.
The Soviets defeated plague and cholera.
When Moscow was hit with black smallpox in 1959, think about it, Moscow overcame it in 21 days, without any lockdowns and panic and vaccinated 6.1 million people in two weeks in Moscow alone.
And now they can not even produce enough masks in three months." Some Russian regions have experienced shortages of protective gear for medical workers but the country has still exported equipment to countries including the United States, Italy and Serbia.
Muscovites are only allowed outside to buy food or medicine nearby, receive urgent medical treatment, walk the dog or take out the trash.
But a policeman guarding Red Square told Reuters the communists had received special permission to stage the event.
The Moscow police and the mayor's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.