As part of the events dedicated to the 81st anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, Minsk held a rally to commemorate Hero of the Soviet Union Ion Soltys, BelTA has learned.
The event was part of a joint initiative by the CIS Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives and the CIS Executive Committee. The initiative aims to commemorate the Heroes of the Soviet Union, natives of CIS countries, whose names grace the streets of the Belarusian capital and whose heroic deeds are inextricably linked with the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi German invaders.
CIS First Deputy Secretary General Igor Petrishenko emphasized that holding such meetings at the monument to Ion Soltys has become a good tradition. He recalled the colossal contribution of the Moldovan people to the common Victory. “During the Great Patriotic War, over 400,000 people were called up from Moldova. They stood together in defense of our homeland. Of these, 85,000 were awarded high honors for their courage, and 19, including Ion Soltys, became Heroes of the Soviet Union,” he noted.
Igor Petrishenko also recalled the partisan movement: over 3,500 people fought the enemy in the underground on Moldovan soil, bringing the common Victory closer. “All the peoples of the CIS paid a high price - more than 27 million human lives. Millions of children were left orphans. It was only thanks to the courage and resilience of our people, including those who worked on the home front, that we prevailed,” he said.
The importance of preserving historical truth was emphasized by Victor Sorocean, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Moldova to Belarus. In his opinion, the topic of protecting history is more relevant today than ever. “There are far too many people eager to rewrite history and downplay the significance of the Great Patriotic War. But in this war, everyone fought side by side - all the nationalities of the Soviet Union. It is impossible to betray that memory. Moldovans fought alongside Belarusians and Russians, and together they rebuilt the country in the postwar years. This invaluable friendship lives on today, despite all attempts to divide us,” he stressed.
Victor Sorocean reported that on the territory of Belarus, more than 80 Moldovan soldiers were buried in 53 mass graves. “We honor their memory and visit these places every year. The monument to Ion Soltys in Minsk symbolizes not only the personal feat of the hero but also the unbreakable friendship between the Moldovan and Belarusian peoples. I deeply hope that our relations will continue to serve the development of both nations,” he concluded.
The commemorative rally concluded with a ceremony to lay flowers at the monument to Ion Soltys. The participants observed a minute of silence to honor the memory of the fallen, reaffirming the unity of the CIS countries in preserving the military-historical heritage.
