Putin in Belgrade: Traffic changes, details of visit

Putin in Belgrade: Traffic changes, details of visit

Nikola Tesla Boulevard will be closed early on Thursday, while it is partially open for traffic on Wednesday.

Additionally, traffic will be suspended for two hours on both left lanes on the Gazela Bridge from midnight until 02:00 CET on Thursday. This will be done in order to decorate the bridge with Serbian and Russian flags.

On Thursday, the highway leading to the city from the airport will be closed from midday until 15:00 CET. As the Russian president's motorcade moves along, the following streets will be successively closed: Kneza Miloša St., Kralja Aleksandra Boulevard, Ruzveltova St.

Citizens have been asked to, by 22:00 CET on Wednesday, remove their vehicles parked at the Nikola Tesla Airport, and in Antifašističke Borbe, Kneza Miloša, Ruzveltova streets, and Kralja Aleksandra Boulevard.

If they do not do so, the parking service will move the vehicles to the nearest parking lot, free of charge. In this case owners will be able learn about the location of their cars by dialing 011 30-35-400.

Citizens will be able to observe the military parade from the Kalemegdan Fortress, and from the Danube side of Nikola Tesla Boulevard.

Visitors are invited to gather in the area around the Palace of Serbia by 14:00 CET. After 15:00 CET, all movement in the wider area where the parade will take place will be prohibited.

Visitors will not be allowed to carry backpacks, bags, weapons, or sharp objects.

The visit

President Vladimir Putin is expected to land in Belgrade at noon on Thursday. He will be welcomed at the airport by his Serbian counterpart Tomislav Nikolić, and head for Belgrade's New Cemetery where he will visit the Russian Necropolis.

He will then place a wreath at the nearby Cemetery of the Defenders of Belgrade.

Afterwards, Putin's convoy will head back to New Belgrade and will not again cross the bridge.

At the Palace of Serbia, Putin and Nikolić will hold a meeting, and after that Putin will also meet with Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić.

The officials will then have lunch, and later address a joint news conference.

This will be followed by the military parade that will finish by 16:30 CET.

Affter the Serbian president addresses the gathering Putin will also give a speech at the parade.

The parade will involve some 3,000 Serbian troops, who will display their weapons and equipment, and a performance of the Russian Air Force's Strizhi aerobatic group.