Rashid Gazizov
MINSK, 25 February (BelTA) – Belarus sets an example of reverent attitude towards its historical past, Counselor of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Belarus Rashid Gazizov said during a press conference titled “The Great Patriotic War: Without Statute of Limitations, Without the Right to Forget” dedicated to the launch of the book “Together! The Great Victory,” BelTA has learned.
“Today, Belarus sets an example of reverent attitude towards its historical past and respect for the memory of fallen soldiers. We are grateful to the fraternal people for their respectful attitude towards the feats of our compatriots. Streets in Belarus are named after them, and monuments have been erected in their honor,” the diplomat said.
Belarus was the first to bear the brunt of Nazi aggression, with nearly one in three of its citizens dying during the war. Rashid Gazizov noted that among the defenders of the Brest Fortress in the early days of the war were hundreds of Kazakhstani soldiers.
“This year marks a tragic milestone for all of us – the 85th anniversary of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. We pay tribute to the blessed memory of all soldiers from our countries who heroically contributed to the Victory. World War II became one of the most tragic pages in human history. For the countries of the former Soviet Union, the war became a Patriotic War because our peoples fought together for their freedom and right to life. Literally from the very first days, Kazakhstani soldiers fought in the most brutal battles, defended the Brest Fortress, defended Moscow and Leningrad, fought near Stalingrad, Kursk and Rzhev, and liberated Belarus,” he recalled.
During the war, over 1.2 million Kazakhstani citizens were drafted into service, in addition to the 178,000 already serving in the Red Army. More than 600,000 of them died. According to the speaker, thousands of them actively participated in the partisan movement in the occupied territories.
“Over 1,500 of our compatriots fought as part of the 65 partisan brigades and detachments operating in Belarus. More than 500 soldiers from Kazakhstan were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, including Leonid Beda and Ivan Pavlov, who liberated Belarus. A total of 84 Kazakhstani soldiers received this title for feats accomplished on Belarusian soil,” he emphasized.
Photo by Tatyana Matusevich/BelTA
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