DUSHANBE, May 7, 2011, Asia-Plus — Russian military base in Tajikistan has organized events to celebrate May 9 Victory Day.
A ceremonial meeting devoted to the 66th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 is taking place at the Russian Drama Theatre named after Vladimir Mayakovsky in Dushanbe today.
Dmitry Matushkin, an assistant to the commander of the Russian base in Tajikistan, says the meeting is organized with support from the Russian Embassy and the command of Russian military base in Tajikistan.
Senior representatives from the Russian Embassy in Dushanbe, Tajik ministries of defense and culture as well as commanders of Russian military base in Tajikistan and senior representatives from diplomatic missions and international organizations active in Tajikistan are attending the meeting. The meeting will be followed by a festive concert.
According to him, a traditional St. George”s Ribbon action was conducted in Dushanbe on May 5-6 and hundreds of Tajik and Russia citizens participated in that action.
The George”s 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 and especially with the units who were awarded the collective Guard battle honors during the conflict. The ribbon consists of a black and orange bicolor pattern, with three black and two orange stripes. The St. George”s Ribbon is worn in a manner to celebrate the Victory Day.
A ceremonial meeting will also take place at the base headquarters in Dushanbe on May 9. Russia diplomats and representatives of Russian and Tajik power-wielding structures will participate in this meeting, Matushkin said.
Victory Day marks the end of World War II I Europe, specifically the capitulation of Nazi forces to the Allies (the United Kingdom, Soviet Union, France, the United States and other principal Allied nations) on May 8, 1945.
In Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries of former Soviet Union, the day of Victory over Nazi Germany was celebrated on May 9, because when the German Instrument of Surrender actually entered into force (May 8, 1945 at 23:01 CET), it was already May 9 by Moscow Time. Post-Soviet countries have continued the tradition.
