MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president on Monday defended the participation of a contingent of Russian soldiers in a military parade over the weekend.
The presence of the Russian contingent in the Independence parade Saturday drew criticism because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador noted that a contingent from China also participated, and said that all the countries Mexico has diplomatic relations with were invited.
López Obrador acknowledged the issue became “a scandal,” but attributed it to his ongoing spat with the news media, which he believes is against him.
“The Chinese were also in the parade, and there wasn't so much outcry,” López Obrador said, noting a Russian contingent had participated in the past, although at times when that country was not actively invading its neighbor.
Persons:
—, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, López Obrador, ” López Obrador, ”, Oksana Dramaretska, López Obrador's, López
Organizations:
MEXICO CITY, Monday, Ukraine's, Sputnik
Locations:
MEXICO, Ukraine, Mexico, Russia, China, Mexico City, Russian, López Obrador's Morena, United States