Members of the Russian delegation in Vienna were not allowed to lay flowers on February 23

This was stated by Russian Ambassador to Austria Dmitry Lyubinsky.

“They (Russian delegates. -

) were required to sign a kind of declaration when issuing visas stating that they undertake not to participate in any events that are not included in the program of the parliamentary assembly.

This also affected, unfortunately, our today's ceremony, ”RIA Novosti quotes him.

Lyubinsky specified that a wreath was placed on their behalf at the monument to Soviet soldiers-liberators in the center of Vienna by the heads of Russian foreign institutions.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin wall and paid tribute to the fallen soldiers.

Putin, during a conversation with participants in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, called care for Russian defenders a sacred duty of the state.