Two veterans of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 from Tajikistan have been invited to participate in a military parade that will be held in the northern capital of Russia, St. Petersburg, on May 9.
“At the invitation of the St. Petersburg Administration, two war veterans from Sughd province – Rahimboy Rahmatov and Abduhakim Abdusaminov – will participate in celebrations dedicated to the 74rd anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 that will take place in St. Petersburg,” Rahmat Qudratov, the head of the Council of Veterans of War and Labor of Tajikistan, told Asia-Plus in an interview.
According to him, they will go to St. Petersburg on May 7.
Russian media reports say the military parade will be the main event on Victory Day in St. Petersburg. In St. Petersburg, the military parade will take place in Palace Square. More than 4,500 servicemen will be on military parade in St. Petersburg.
Recall, more than 270,000 residents of Tajikistan took part in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 and more than 100,000 of them died in battle.
55 of residents of Tajikistan were given the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Besides, 15 other Tajikistan’s residents were Full Holders of the Order of Glory.
Victory Day marks the end of World War II in Europe, specifically the capitulation of Nazi forces to the Allies (the Soviet Union, United Kingdom, France, the United States and other principal Allied nations) on May 8, 1945.
In Russia and other countries of former Soviet Union, the day of Victory over Nazi Germany is 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.
As of late April 2019, only 244 Tajik veterans of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 are estimated to be still alive.
