Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken center stage at Russia’s Victory Day parade on Friday, surrounding himself by friendly world leaders in a highly choreographed show designed to show the Western world that Russia is far from isolated.

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia on Friday celebrated the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, as President Vladimir Putin presided over a massive parade of tanks, missiles and troops through Red Square and welcomed over two dozen world leaders — the most since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.

A man holding a "No to war!" placard was detained in central Moscow and later beaten at the police station, human rights activists have reported. Source: OVD-Info, a Russian human rights media project Details: Alexander Klevitov came to Pushkinskaya Square with a "No to war!