TOKYO (Sputnik) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a personal letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin explaining his absence from the May 9th parade in Moscow commemorating the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, local media reported Thursday.
According to the Nikkei newspaper, Abe's decision to not attend the Victory Day parade is due to his busy working schedule.
The invitation to attend the Moscow victory celebrations was declined officially on April 28, with Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga stating that Abe will not attend due to his schedule.
May 9 Victory Day celebrations in Moscow will be attended by representatives from 26 countries, according to top Kremlin official Sergei Ivanov.
A number of world leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron and Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, have declined the invitation in light of their allegations of Russia's involvement in the Ukrainian crisis.
