VERONA, 20 October (BelTA) – A monument to Soviet partisan Vladimir Tulisko was unveiled in the town of Caldiero in northeastern Italy on 20 October. Thus, this town near Verona celebrated the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and the victory over fascism, BelTA has learned.
It has now been established that Vladimir Tulisko was sent to Italy for forced labor. In 1944, he escaped from captivity and joined the partisans operating in the Veneto region as part of the Pasubio Division. Here Vladimir received the battle nickname Villy, took part in many partisan attacks and died at the age of 22 on 25 April 1945, the day Italy was liberated from fascism.
The dying Vladimir Tulisko was found by a 12-year-old local girl Maria Bartilla Marin. The partisan was solemnly buried in the local cemetery but for many years nothing was known about him apart from the combat nickname Villy. It was only in 1987 that the name of the hero was established thanks to the efforts of Italian and Soviet researchers.
All these years Maria Bartilla Marin brought flowers to the grave of the Soviet partisan who fell for the freedom of Italy, not even knowing his real name. This touching story inspired the sculptural composition which has been installed in the central square of Caldiero. Its authors are young sculptors Matteo Cavaioni from Italy and Nadezhda Golysheva from Russia.
The local community honors Vladimir Tulisko as their son, Mayor of Caldiero Marcello Lovato noted. The sculpture is now another evidence that the memory of Caldiero citizens about the Soviet partisan will never fade away.
Maria Bartilla Marin was a guest of honor at the ceremony. Although it is already difficult for her to move around because of her old age, the locals are sure that Maria will be able to continue laying flowers at the new tomb of the partisan she found. Vladimir Tulisko's remains were reburied, and now he rests near the monument in the central city square.
The celebrations to mark the opening of the monument to the Soviet partisan were part of a series of events dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Victory, timed to the annual Eurasian Economic Forum in Verona. This year the organizers could not ignore this significant date, said one of the organizers of the forum, President of Conoscere Eurasia Association, Chairman of the Board of the Italian Banca Intesa Antonio Fallico. He is convinced that the victory over fascism remains the most important event for the whole mankind, and the attempts to rewrite history and belittle the role of the Soviet people in it are unacceptable.
Ahead of the Eurasian forum which is slated for 22-23 October, Verona will host a scientific conference on World War Two, a presentation of the book about Soviet partisans in Veneto, and a themed photo exhibition. The program will also feature Turetsky Choir's concert and a retrospective of Soviet films.
The Eurasian Economic Forum in Verona is organized by the non-for-profit association Conoscere Eurasia, the Roscongress Foundation and St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. BelTA is an information partner of the Verona forum.
