Moscow authorities have canceled traditional festivities that mark the last week before Lent following February 11’s deadly plane crash outside the Russian capital.
Authorities declared Feb. 12 a day of mourning for all 71 victims of the An-148 Saratov Airlines plane crash. The regional passenger jet went down four minutes after takeoff from Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport on February 11 afternoon. Feb. 12 also marks the start of Maslenitsa, a traditional Russian folk festival with pagan roots that celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of spring, known as Pancake Week.
