Press releases

MOSCOW, 28 June (BelTA) – A wreath from the Belarusian Embassy in Russia was laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow on 28 June. The solemn ceremony marked the 74th anniversary of Belarus' liberation from the Nazi invaders and Belarus' Independence Day, BelTA has learned.

Attending the ceremony were Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia Igor Petrishenko, State Secretary of the Belarus-Russia Union State Grigory Rapota, Vice Speaker of Russia’s State Duma Ivan Melnikov, representatives of the integration agencies, the Belarusian community in Russia and diplomats. The participants in the ceremony also laid flowers at the memorials Minsk Hero City and Brest Hero Fortress in the Alley of Hero Cities in Moscow's Alexander Gardens.

The day when Belarus marks its Independence Day was established following a national referendum and is associated with the liberation of Minsk from Nazi invaders rather than the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ambassador Igor Petrishenko told the media after the ceremony. He also noted that Belarus’ independence has grown stronger thanks to the achievements in industry, agriculture, IT, science, culture and other fields. “We see how our land is growing more beautiful. This year has been declared the Year of Native Land and many of our Russian friends and partners welcomed the idea to get back to the roots, to show appreciation to their hometown or village and make the country more beautiful and more attractive,” the ambassador said.