MOSCOW. July 31 (Interfax-AVN) - Airborne Commander Georgy Shpak has denounced Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff Anatoly Kvashnin's decision to call off traditional Airborne Force Day celebrations in Moscow on Sunday, saying his force is unlikely to understand it.
"I have serious doubts that my force will take the superiors' decision with understanding," Shpak said in an interview with the Komsomolskaya Pravda daily published on Thursday.
"The people are indignant, but they are laughing at the same time. I remember one of our officers saying, "We are not that weak to let some illusory Shakhids frighten us." But no under- carpet games can spoil our holiday. We will celebrate it in a due way," the commander noted.
Shpak earlier said that Kvashnin cancelled the Airborne Force Day celebrations at the Tushino airfield in Moscow without explaining any reasons.
The Defense Ministry press service told Interfax-Military News Agency on Thursday that the ministry's leaders "decided that it will be unethical to hold paramilitary festivities on the scene of the recent tragedy in Tushino, where people died less than a month ago."
The blast on the Tushino airfield killed 15 visitors of a rock festival and two suicide bombers on July 5.