Press releases

MINSK, 9 May (BelTA) – After the wreath-laying ceremony in Victory Square in Minsk on 9 May on the occasion of the 71^st anniversary of the Soviet nation’s victory in the Great Patriotic War Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko heartily talked to war veterans, BelTA has learned.

Alexander Lukashenko congratulated the veterans on Victory Day. “I would like to heartily congratulate you on the anniversary and thank you for everything,” said the head of state. He invited the veterans to attend the celebratory concert in the evening where favorable conditions would be enabled for them.

The President also talked to representatives of the diplomatic corps, who were present during the ceremony, and congratulated them on Victory Day.

On 9 May the head of state took part in festivities on the occasion of the 71^st anniversary of the Soviet nation’s victory in the Great Patriotic War. Alexander Lukashenko laid a wreath at the Victory Monument in Minsk. Wreaths were also laid on behalf of central government agencies, the parliament, courts, the Security Council, and the army. Wreaths were also laid on behalf of law enforcement agencies, the Belarusian Public Association of War Veterans and other public associations, the Minsk Oblast administration and the Minsk city administration, the CIS Executive Committee, the diplomatic corps, the Belarusian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

Participants of the ceremony honored the memory of countless victims of the Great Patriotic War with a minute of silence. Six volleys of artillery salute were fired in Victory Square today. After that a composite company and the orchestra of the guard of honor of the military commandant's office of the Belarusian army marched past those present.