Tatarstan President participates in festivities devoted to Victory Day in Kazan

Holiday concert and military parade in honour of the 62nd anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War have been held in Victory Park in Kazan on May 9.

Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev, RT Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov, RT State Council Chairman Farid Moukhametshin, the head of RT President’s Apparatus Yuri Kamaltynov, Kazan mayor Ilsur Metshin and many other officials and military men took part in the solemn events.

Mintimer Shaimiev and other officials laid flowers to the Eternal Flame at the Glory Memoriam. Then the honoured guests watched a musical-theatrical show, which was a kind of a prologue to the memory meeting.

After anthems of Russia and Tatarstan, RT President Mintimer Shaimiev made a speech to the participants of the festivities. Personally and on behalf of RT State Council and Government, he congratulated Tatarstan citizens on the 62nd anniversary of Victory Day. He expressed gratitude to front-line soldiers and rare services workers for what they have done and do. “It is our victory, - Mintimer Shaimiev emphasized, - the victory, which embodies grief, joy and pride. We have to, can and should be proud of it; we demonstrated spirit and potential, character of our nation to the world”. The head of the republic asked the participants of the solemn meeting to hold a minute of silence in memory of all who gave up their lives for the victory. Mintimer Shaimiev thanked veterans for all efforts made in order to preserve memory about the great victory.

Tatarstan President also indicated his attitude toward the attempts to change public consciousness to the Victory over Fascist Germany and Japan that are observed in some countries of the world (including Russia). “Any attempts to devaluate the results of the Great Patriotic War will fail; the price of the victory was too high. We appreciate it and will stand up for this victory,” – he emphasized.

After the end of the parade Mintimer Shaimiev and other guests talked to veterans and laid flowers to the monument of Mother, which is situated on the territory of Kazan Victory Park.