AKIPRESS.COM - Authorities in Tajikistan have decided not to go ahead with a march called the Immortal Regiment to mark the anniversary of the World War II victory over Nazi Germany, which is celebrated in many former Soviet countries on May 9, the RFE/RL reports.

State news agency Hovar reported on May 4 that the decision was prompted by security concerns and "Islamic traditions that do not approve of the public display of pictures of deceased people."

Last year, Tajikistan for the first time held a march of World War II veterans and younger Tajiks holding portraits of relatives who died in the war. The march was inspired by a similar one in Russia.

Immortal Regiment marches have been held across Russia and some other former Soviet republics on May 9 for several years.

It was earlier reported that the Immortal Regiment march has been canceled in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan as well.