The victims of the Great Patriotic War were honored in the Victory Park in Kazan

Today, on the day of the 76th anniversary of the Great Victory in Kazan, the ceremony of laying flowers was held at the Eternal Flame and the Monument to the Mothers and Widows of the War Victims. The ceremony in the Victory Park was attended by Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, Tatarstan Prime Minister Alexey Pesoshin, Chair of the Tatarstan State Council Farid Mukhametshin, State Councilor of the republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, Head of the Executive Committee of Kazan Rustem Gafarov, veterans of the Great Patriotic War and their relatives, as well as citizens of Kazan.

The participants of the ceremony laid flowers at the Eternal Flame of the colonnade of the Memorial of Glory and paid tribute to the fallen by a minute of silence. After that, the national anthems of the Russian Federation and the republic of Tatarstan were played. The participants also laid flowers at the monument to a Soviet soldier, which was opened last year, the monument to the Mothers and Widows of the War Victims and the memorial to the sailors who died in the Great Patriotic War. In memory of all those who did not come back from the front, white doves were released into the sky.

Tatarstan President congratulated the citizens on the Victory Day, talked with the veterans and took some memorable photos.

The participants of the ceremony also visited the photo exhibition “City of Labor Valor” opened in the park by 9 May, containing interesting historical facts about the contribution of the republic to the Great Victory. For reference, during the war, 700 thousand Tatarstan citizens went to the front, almost half of whom did not come back home.

Last year, Kazan, along with 19 other cities, was awarded the honorary title “City of Labor Valor”. During the war, the capital of the TASSR became one of the most important rear centers of the country. 139 industrial enterprises were rebuilt for the military purpose, and another 70 enterprises were evacuated from the central and western regions of the country. The enterprises produced more than 600 types of weapons, ammunition and equipment for the needs of the Red Army.

Kazan citizens also joined the ceremony and paid tribute to the memory of the war victims. Among them was a student of the International College of Service Eseniya Semenova, who together with her classmates came to the park with a bouquet of red carnations. “Every year we take part in the celebration of the Victory Day and attend all events, - she said. - Laying flowers is one of the most important events of the holiday. My grandfather, who have passed away, fought in the Great Patriotic War, and I always remember him on this day.”