VERKHNEDVINSK DISTRICT, 18 February (BelTA) – Belarusian border guards handed the Victory Relay, that is traveling along the external borders of the CIS member states, over to representatives of the Border Service of the Federal Security Service of Russia's Pskov Oblast, BelTA has learned.
The official ceremony took place at the Mound of Friendship in Verkhnedvinsk District, Vitebsk Oblast on 18 February. The mound is situated at the junction of the Belarusian, Latvian, and Russian borders. Taking part in the event were representatives of the State Border Committee of Belarus, the Coordination Service of the CIS Council of Border Guard Commanders, the Border Service of the Russian Federal Security Service, local authorities of Vitebsk Oblast, Pskov Oblast, Verkhnedvinsk District, and Polotsk District, Polotsk border guards, members of veterans' and youth organizations, and clerics.
Deputy Chairman of the State Border Committee Igor Pechen said that the Victory Relay campaign celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War kicked off in Brest and Russia's Murmansk on 5 February and is following two routes across ten countries. The relay traveled across Belarus for 14 days and visited a lot of cities and towns in Brest Oblast, Gomel Oblast, Grodno Oblast, and Vitebsk Oblast. Its program included rallies, meetings, and concerts featuring representatives of the border services, local authorities, public associations, and veterans.
“The Victory Relay symbolizes the historical memory about border guards, soldiers, partisans, and underground movement members who gave their lives to protect their Motherland,” Igor Pechen said. “It was difficult to win the war, but it is even more difficult to defend the truth about the war amidst attempts to rewrite its history. It is important to preserve the historical truth about the causes, course, and outcomes of the Great Patriotic War for future generations,” he added.
On 19 February, the symbol of the relay will arrive in Moscow and then will continue its travel along the external borders of the CIS, First Deputy Head of the Border Service of the Federal Security Service of Russia's Pskov Oblast Stanislav Akatov said. On 28 May it will return to Moscow, to the Monument to Border Guards of Fatherland on Poklonnaya Hill.
“The Russian border service is honored to pick up the baton of the Victory Relay. Thus we commemorate the fallen and witnesses of those horrible times. Our duty is to preserve the memory of the war, thus we will never be defeated. We can only be proud of the Victory that we won together,” Stanislav Akatov said.
Chairman of the Vitebsk Oblast Council of Deputies Vladimir Terentyev stressed the significance of such campaigns. “Today we commemorate people who defended the borders of our Motherland. The memory of the Great Patriotic War lives on, we should preserve it for future generations, for young people who are with us here today. Such events help us prevent fouling of the pages of the history of the Great Victory,” he noted.
Participant of the Great Patriotic War, scout of a partisan unit Antonina Klubkova added that during the war everyone stood up to defend their native land. “There was no force that was able to break the proud spirit of our people. It showed the whole world that it can confront any enemy who brings war. Although the war is becoming more distant, the memory of its sacrifices and the immortal feat of the fallen and the survivors will forever remain in our hearts,” Antonina Klubkova noted.
Photos by Aleksandr Khitrov
