Press releases

28 Jan 2019

Star Expedition campaign kicks off in Minsk

MINSK, 28 January (BelTA) - The international Star Expedition around the places of military glory and labor excellence in Belarus kicked off at the Pobeda [Victory] museum and park complex, near the memorial to the citizens of all nationalities who liberated Belarus from the German fascists, BelTA has learned.

The event is timed to the 75th anniversary of Belarus’ liberation from the German invaders. The rally dedicated to the launch of the campaign was attended by Belarus' Education Minister Igor Karpenko, Deputy Chairman of the Minsk City Hall Artem Tsuran, representatives of the embassies of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan in Belarus, Chairman of the Belarusian Public Association of Veterans Anatoly Adonyev, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Belarusian BRSM Youth Union Aleksandra Goncharova.

Igor Karpenko noted that the Star Expedition is a longstanding tradition of Maksim Tank Belarusian State Pedagogical University (BSPU) and is an inalienable part of the university’s civil and patriotic movement. “I am glad that the university maintains this tradition. I took part in the expedition in 1985. The atmosphere of the event has changed but the message stays the same: concerts, meetings at schools, workshops, meetings with war veterans, recording their recollections. The educational and cultural program is very eventful. In the recent years, foreign students who study in Belarus have also started to participate in the expeditions,” the minister said.

BSPU Rector Alexander Zhuk noted that this year the expedition has gathered students from seven countries: Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and China. “These are students from our partner pedagogical universities. This is very important. The war did not reach the territory of some of the countries but their people fought here, on the frontlines and in partisan units defending Belarus. Thus, they contributed to the Great Victory. We won because we were together. The youth must not only value and remember this deed but also pass on the memory of the Great Victory to future generations. The groups of the expedition will go to all the regions to organize meetings, stage rallies and lay flowers at the war mass graves. Foreign students will see the places where their compatriots fought and died and will be able to honor them,” the rector said.

Launched in 1966, the international Star Expedition is held annually. This time, more than 300 participants divided into nine groups will visit Krupki District, Myadel District, Pukhovichi District and Slutsk District of Minsk Oblast, the city of Orsha and Dokshitsy District of Vitebsk Oblast, Lida District of Grodno Oblast, and Osipovichi District of Mogilev Oblast. The participants will stage rallies and lay flowers to the memorials and graves of soldiers and civilians who perished in the Great Patriotic War, meet with war and labor veterans, provide them help and assistance. The participants will also visit educational institutions to conduct careers fairs, give concerts, organize workshops and sports events.