DUSHANBE, May 5, 2009, Asia-Plus — Initiated by the Russian Embassy in Dushanbe and Russian military base in Tajikistan, the St. George’s Ribbon action to commemorate Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 was launched in Tajikistan today.
The action in memory of the victims of World War II is carried out under the motto of “I Remember, I Am Proud!”
Head of TV group at the Russian military base, Major Rafael Usmanov, who is one of organizers of the action, told reporters that 2,000 St. George ribbons were delivered to Tajikistan from Russia by a special flight on Monday. Major part of these black-and-orange ribbons symbolizing the combat feat of World War II veterans will be handed out to citizens in Dushanbe during two days.
The St. George Ribbon constitutes one of the most recognized and respected symbols of military valor in modern Russia. It is widely associated with the commemoration of World War II. The ribbon consists of a black and orange bicolor pattern, with three black and two orange stripes.
The Georgian ribbon emerged as part of the Order of St. George, established in 1769 as the highest military decoration of Imperial Russia and re-established in 1998 by the Russian Federation. The ribbon of the Order of Glory, an order of the Soviet Union that was established on November 8, 1943, was orange with three black stripes – the same as that of the Cross of St. George. The Order of Glory was awarded to non-commissioned officers and rank-and-file of the armed forces, as well as junior lieutenants of the air force, for bravery in the face of the enemy.
Since the 60th anniversary of the Victory Day (May 9, 2005), the ribbon is freely worn by civilians as an act of commemoration and remembrance.
Some 2,000 veterans of World War II currently live in Tajikistan. By president’s order they will receive an extraordinary grant of 350 somoni each on occasion of the Victory Day. By Dushanbe mayor’s resolution 310 war veterans living in Dushanbe will also receive 350 somoni each. Such actions on providing financial assistance to war veterans will be held in the provinces as well.
More than 280,000 residents of Tajikistan participated in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 and some 70,000 of them died in battles. 55 of residents of Tajikistan were given the title of Hero of the Soviet Union; the last of them, Pavel Khanzhin, died in Dushanbe two years go. Besides, 15 other Tajikistan’s residents were Full Holders of the Order of Glory. The last of them, 87-year-old Abdunazar Farmonqulov, currently lives in the northern city of Istaravshan.
