On 31 October, the monument to Hero of the Soviet Union Sharifzyan Kazanbaev was unveiled in the commune of Ciocîlteni, Orhei District of the Republic of Moldova after restoration. The event was attended by Deputy Chairman of the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – Islamic World” Farit Mukhametshin. The opening ceremony was also attended by a large delegation of Russia diplomats and senators, as well as Belarusian diplomatic mission and parliamentarians.
According to Farit Mukhametshin, it is very symbolic that the event took place in the year of the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory: “This is one of the brightest manifestations of friendship between our states – Russia and Moldova. During the years of my work in Moldova, I witnessed that the preservation of memory and monuments had always been given special attention. This shows that this is the sincere desire of the Moldovan people”.
Nikolay Gutsul, the Chairman of the Board of Slavic Human Rights Organization “VECHE”, noted that the monument had been in a very bad condition: monolithic concrete slabs were dispersed, and with the slightest earthquake this sculpture could have collapsed. It is known that the funds for restoration of the monument were allocated by the administrations of Tatarstan and the Perm Region, and some of the funds were raised by the local administration thanks to a private sponsor. “Ambassador of Russia to Moldova Oleg Vasnetsov and former Head of the Russian Diplomatic Mission in our country, now a member of the Federation Council and Deputy Chairman of the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – Islamic World” Farit Mukhametshin took direct part in restoration of the monument”, Gutsul noted.
In his turn, Advisor to the President of Moldova Viktor Gaiciuc is convinced that the predominant part of the Moldovan people honor the memory of those who liberated Moldova and Europe from fascism: “The Soviet soldier hoisted Victory Banner over the Reichstag, and there can be no other interpretation. There are more than a thousand monuments in Moldova to the heroes of that war”.
For reference: Kazanbaev Sharifzyan Gabdurakhmanovich was a commander of the commandant’s platoon of the 14th Guards Airborne Regiment (the 6th Guards Airborne Division, the 4th Guards Army, the 2nd Ukrainian Front)Guard Sergeant. He was born in 1916 in the village of Sarashi, now the Bardymsky district of Perm region to a peasant family. In 1938 he was conscripted to the Red Army by the Bardymsky District Military Committee. He took part in the Great Patriotic War since 1941. By the spring of 1944, Kazanbaev had become the commander of a section of the commandant’s platoon of the 14th Guards Airborne Regiment. He distinguished himself especially in the battles for the liberation of Moldova.
On 31 March, 1944, the regiment, where Guard Sergeant Kazanbaev served, raided the enemy’s rear, captured the village of Ciocîlteni (Orhei District in Moldova) and blocked the road, repulsing counterattacks by superior enemy forces. When the enemy broke through to the outskirts of the village and the situation worsened, the Regiment’s Chief of Staff ordered Kazanbaev’s troops to save the Regiment Banner. Kazanbaev, together with his subordinates, began to break through to the advancing units. He was the only survivor and was seriously wounded. Kazanbaev buried the Banner in the ground. When he was rescued by the cavalry patrol, Kazanbaev managed to tell the officer where the regimental shrine was located, after which he died of his wounds.
By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 13, 1944, Guard Sergeant Kazanbaev Sharifzyan Gabdurakhmanovich was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the exemplary performance of combat missions of the command at the front of the fight against the Nazi invaders and for the courage and heroism.
Ilmira Gafiyatullina