Press releases

29 Apr 2019

Belarus embassy lays wreath at Tomb of Unknown Soldier in Moscow

Photo courtesy of the Belarusian embassy in Russia

MOSCOW, 29 April (BelTA) - A wreath was placed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin Wall in Moscow on behalf of the Belarusian Embassy on 3 May on the occasion of the 74th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Flowers were also laid at the memorial plates Minsk Hero City and Brest Hero Fortress in the Alexander Garden, BelTA learned from the press service of the diplomatic mission.

“74 years ago the multinational Soviet people achieved the Great Victory, which saved our countries from enslavement, destroyed fascism, liberated Europe, protected the world from fascism. Twenty-seven million lives of Soviet people were put on its altar. Belarus and Russia paid the highest price for freedom and independence,” Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia Vladimir Semashko told the media after the ceremony.

The ambassador noted that Belarus was the first of the USSR republics to take the brunt of the aggression and did not surrender. Despite the real genocide unleashed by the Nazis against the Belarusian people, there was a strong self-organized popular resistance. Belarus lost a third of the population in the war.

"This year marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus on 3 July on Independence Day. It was the day when our capital, Minsk, was liberated. We shall celebrate this anniversary in style,” Vladimir Semashko said.

The ambassador also emphasized: “The whole Belarus will join the public procession Belarus Remembers which will be held in all Belarusian cities and towns on 9 May. Belarusians, both old and young, will pay tribute to the fallen I ceremonies at the memorials and monuments (almost 9,000 of them in Belarus). Not a single war monument has been destroyed in Belarus.

“Nobody has been forgotten and nothing has been forgotten in our countries. This is not an abstract slogan for the present and future generations. This means practical action, ranging from care about war veterans and ending with anti-war resolutions in international organizations. We have no right to waste our common achievements. We have one goal and sacred duty, namely to multiply them for the benefit of the present and future generations of the Belarusians and Russians. Together we should protect and strengthen the Union State,” Vladimir Semashko said.

The ambassador extended Victory Day greetings to all Belarusians and Russians. “I would like to express infinite gratitude to the generation of victors who fell in action, died of wounds, and those heroes of the Great Patriotic War who are still living: soldiers, partisans, underground fighters, workers on the home front,” the diplomat said.

After the ceremony Vladimir Semashko talked to war veterans and their relatives, presented them with flowers.

Taking part in the ceremony were diplomats and workers of the embassy, veterans of the Great Patriotic War – Belarus defenders and liberators, partisans and prisoners of concentration camps. The event was attended by State Secretary of the Union State Grigory Rapota, State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Grigory Karasin, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council’s Committee on the Federal Structure, Regional Policies, Local Self-Governance and Affairs of the North Andrei Shevchenko, member of the Federation Council’s Committee on Defense and Security Frants Klintsevich, Director of the CIS Second Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Andrei Rudenko, representatives of the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, the Council of the State Duma, the Eurasian Economic Commission, the CIS Executive Committee, the CSTO, scientists and figures of art of Moscow, the Belarusian diaspora.

“The Belarusian embassy started a very good tradition to lay wreaths and flowers at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier, at the memorial plates of Minsk Hero City, Brest Fortress in Alexander Garden ahead the Victory Day celebrations. This is a very important emotional part of our relations which unites all the generations, the generation of victors, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It creates an important feeling of unity for our countries and nations, which is crucial for addressing any economic, social and political problems,” Grigory Karasin said.

The military exemplary band of the Guard of Honor of the Moscow Garrison performed the national anthem of Belarus. The participants of the event also watched a match-past of the troops of the 154th separate Preobrazhensky regiment.