MINSK, 6 May (BelTA) - The CIS countries do a lot to preserve the memory of the Great Patriotic War, First Deputy Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee – CIS Executive Secretary Viktor Guminsky said during a ceremony of laying flowers at the commemorative plaque to Hero of the Soviet Union Najafgulu Rafiyev in Minsk, BelTA has learned.
“The CIS declared 2020 the Year of the 75th Anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War. Our countries are doing a lot to preserve the memory of those who defended the freedom and independence of our Motherland during the war. We do everything to make sure that this memory should live in our hearts and that our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren should know at what cost this Great Victory was achieved. Eternal memory to the heroes” Viktor Guminsky said.
He stressed that during the war, representatives of different nationalities forged the victory shoulder to shoulder. “Resilience, heroism and patriotism of liberators-heroes, their unity and friendship are an example for us. We look up to them and do everything possible to strengthen the friendship of the peoples of the CIS, and to make the lives of our people better,” he said.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Belarus Latif Gandilov extended Victory Day greetings to all those present, saying that many Azerbaijanis fought for the liberation of the Belarusian land during the war. “I would like to thank all the Belarusian people, the head of state for such attention not only to their heroes, but also to the heroes of other nations. The Azerbaijani people also honor the memory of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. 9 May is a sacred day for everyone of us. We need to pass this baton of memory to new generations,” he said.
One of the streets in Moskovsky district of Minsk, where the memorial was installed, was named after Najafgulu Rafiyev. Rafiyev particularly distinguished himself in the battles for the liberation of Belarus. He led his tank platoon during Operation Bagration.
His men seized the crossing over the Ptsich near Bobruisk and overtook the Bobruisk-Glusk highway to cut off the German escape route. Pursuing the enemy, the tank platoon broke into Lenino, Gorky District and was the first to enter the streets of Baranovichi to save hundreds of people.
