Kazan celebrates 69th anniversary of Great Victory

(Kazan, KZN.RU, May 9) The leaders of the Republic of Tatarstan and Kazan laid flowers at the Eternal Flame and the Monument to the Mothers and Widows of Fallen Soldiers in Victory Park in celebration of the 69th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War,.

A Victory Parade was held at Kazan's Freedom Square. The official part of the event was attended by President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, State Councillor Mintimer Shaimiev, Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin and other officials.

The Victory Parade in Moscow's Red Square was  broadcast live, during which President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin addressed the celebrants. After the national anthem of the Russian Federation, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, speaking in Russian and Tatar, addressed the veterans, home front workers, parade participants and Kazan military garrison.

" May 9 will forever be a sacred day for us; our fathers and grandfathers did all they could to bring it closer. They fought bravely forging victory at the front and in the rear,” said R.Minnikhanov. “The ruthless enemy was defeated. The terrible, bloody war, which killed tens of millions, is in the past.”

Mr. Minnikhanov expressed confidence that Tatarstan will always cherish the memory of the war heroes and will never put up with the resurgence of Nazi ideology. Those gathered at Freedom Square honored the memory of the Great Patriotic War dead with a moment of silence. After the anthem of Tatarstan, a solemn march was held at Freedom Square. The parade was led by Major General Valery Mironchenko .

The main difference between this parade and previous ones was that at the end of the festivities the "Singing Kazan" flash mob gave a concert of military songs performed by a joint chorus of Kazan students. All those present could sing along.