The people of Kyrgyzstan will always keep in memory the heroic deeds of those who perished during the siege of Leningrad and the fallen defenders of the city. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov said this on Friday in an address to the people on the occasion of the anniversary of the full liberation of Leningrad from the Nazi blockade.
"We bow low to all those who defended the besieged city with arms in their hands, who toiled in the ring of fire, who survived the terrible days of the blockade, survived and won. We will always remember the millions of people who gave their lives to save Leningrad, who died of hunger and cold, bombing and shelling. Eternal glory to the heroes - to all those who spared no effort fighting for the freedom of their Fatherland for the sake of peace on earth and the happiness of future generations," the address reads.
According to him, January 27, 1944, one of the most "dramatic and heroic pages of the Great Patriotic War" was closed. "The blockade survivors demonstrated to the entire world not only courage, resilience and heroism, they showed an unprecedented example of honor and strength of the human spirit. The history of the besieged Leningrad is a story of the greatest courage, selflessness and unbreakable friendship and unity of the Soviet people," said the head of Kyrgyzstan.
As he recalled, more than 16 thousand people were evacuated from the besieged Leningrad to Kyrgyzstan, including about 3.5 thousand children who were "accepted and raised by the residents of the republic as their own children." "The symbol of mercy, valor and humanity was our compatriot from the village of Kurmenty Toktogon Altybasarova, who raised and gave motherly love to 150 children displaced from the besieged Leningrad," Zhaparov continued. He also stated that "along with other brotherly peoples," more than 4,500 natives of Kyrgyzstan bravely fought and heroically died in the battle for Leningrad.
There are currently 12 veterans of the siege of Leningrad living in Kyrgyzstan.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Federation Council
Based on materials from TASS