Address of Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov dated to the 67th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War

Dear Tatarstaners! Dear war veterans and workers on the home front!

I sincerely congratulate you on the 67th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War! The 9th of May of 1945 forever went down in history of our multiethnic Motherland having comprised the joy of heroic deeds and bitterness of grievous losses. Victory Day is the eternal patriotic hymn of all postwar generations sounding in hearts descendants, imprinted in bronze of monuments, names of streets and squares. It is a holiday of liberation, grateful memory and high patriotism.

On V-day we remember names of those who gave their lives for freedom and independence of the native land, who worked hard at factories and fields, who was tormented in fascist torture chambers, died of deprivation, starvation and wounds. St.George Ribbon worn by grey-haired veterans and young successors of glorious combat and labor traditions has become a bright symbol of national respect to the feat of liberators.

Our people paid enormous heavy price for victory over ruthless subtle enemy. More than 700 thousand Tatarstaners went to front in order to protect their Motherland and the whole world from fascism. Almost half of them did not return home. We will never forget feats of Musa Jalil, Mikhail Devyataev, Maguba Syrtlanova, Pyotr Gavrilov, Gani Safiullin, Nikolay Stolyarov, Gazi Zagitov, Mikhail Simonov, and many other heroic compatriots.

Our united people, united country came through gravity of the war. All thoughts and deeds of the wartime generation were focused on the only idea – to hold out, to survive, to win! Soldiers of the Great Victory carried out their historical mission with dignity and brought victory and liberation from Nazi servitude to our country, Europe and the entire planet.

Year by year we are farther from that heroic time. Our common filial duty is to pay respect to a few living veterans and workers on the homefront.

A consistent policy on improvement of housing and other social conditions of veterans, on their active involvement in public life is implemented in republic. A wide range of anniversaries within the limits of the Year of Russian history and Year of historical-cultural heritage of the Republic of Tatarstan will make a considerable contribution in this noble cause.

I believe that Victory Day will always be inviolable moral guide which will help us coordinating our deeds.

From the bottom of my heart, I with health, optimism, happiness and wellbeing to our dear veterans and all Tatarstaners!

Happy Victory Day, dear friends!