Belarus celebrates National Remembrance Day of the Victims of the Great Patriotic War and the Genocide of the Belarusian People

The country today recalls all those who – at the cost of their lives – fulfilled their duty to protect the Motherland, all those who died, were tortured in fascist captivity, and died in the rear from hunger and deprivation.

Thousands of people gathered at the Brest Hero-Fortress Memorial Complex to honour the memory of all who had been killed and to thank the heroes. Flowers were laid at the Eternal Flame by the leadership of the region, the country, the Union State, diplomatic structures and foreign delegations. They recalled the dead and once again thanked all those who contributed to the Great Victory.

In Gomel, a requiem rally dedicated to National Remembrance Day of the Victims of the Great Patriotic War and the Genocide of the Belarusian People was organised by border guards: servicemen of the Gomel Border Group. Hundreds of people gathered near the majestic Mound of Glory at dawn to once again recall one of the most bitter pages in Belarusians’ history.

Hundreds of Mogilev residents joined the patriotic Bell Tolling of Sorrow. As is traditional on June 22nd, it took place at 4am on the Buinichi field.

Representatives of all power bloc of Belarus took part in a solemn ceremony of laying flowers and wreaths at the Victory Monument in Minsk. This event launched the Calendar of Memory cultural and patriotic campaign countrywide.

More than 300 reenactors gathered at the Brest Hero-Fortress Memorial Complex to recreate the first hours of the Great Patriotic War on National Remembrance Day of the Victims of the Great Patriotic War and the Genocide of the Belarusian People.

In Grodno, a rally dedicated to the 81st anniversary of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War was held at the foot of the Memorial Complex to the Soldiers of the Belarusian Border District, Killed but Not Defeated.

In Vitebsk, the staff of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee gathered early in the morning near the memorial honouring the liberators of Vitebsk – Soviet soldiers, partisans and underground workers. The action dedicated to National Remembrance Day of the Victims of the Great Patriotic War and the Genocide of the Belarusian People began at exactly 4am on Victory Square.