Solemn event commemorating 81st anniversary of  liberation of  Leningrad from  fascist blockade held in Yerevan

ArmInfo. A solemn event was held in Yerevan to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the complete liberation of Leningrad from the fascist blockade.

During  the event at the monument dedicated to the children of  besieged Leningrad, Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin,  expressed his belief that this sculpture was erected to symbolize   Armenian- Russian friendship. According to him, the pedestal  commemorates how Armenians saved the children of the blockade during  the war. "This is one of the embodiments of the best features that  have always been inherent in relations between our peoples. These  include moral values, spiritual values, and solidarity. In general,  everything without which there should be no life on earth," the  Russian ambassador noted. In this vein, Kopyrkin pointed to the  imperative of defending the historical truth- the truth about the  unparalleled feat of the Soviet people, as well as all the peoples of  the Soviet Union. They, without exaggeration, saved the world from a  terrible danger.

"We will always remember the achievements of our ancestors, as well  as the contributions made by allies of the Soviet Union in the  anti-Hitler coalition towards our common victory. Unfortunately, not  everyone now wants to remember exactly what happened. There are  widespread attempts to distort history, which is why last October,  the heads of state of the CIS issued a joint appeal to the peoples of  the Commonwealth and the global community in honor of the 80th  anniversary of the victory of the Soviet people in the Great  Patriotic War. This is very important. This topic has been and  continues and continues to be a unifying force among our peoples,"  said the Russian ambassador.

Then the diplomat touched on the events  planned for the 80th  anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. According to  him, today's ceremony marks the beginning of a series of events   dedicated to the Great Anniversary, the 80th anniversary of the  victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War and World War  II. "There will be many events and activities. You know that the  Russian President has invited his CIS colleagues to attend the  anniversary events in Moscow in May of this year. We expect that the  Armenian leadership will take part in these solemn events," Kopyrkin  stated.  Then the Russian diplomat called for the defense of the  common historical past, which is under attack from all sides.

The event was attended by representatives from the embassies of  Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan in Armenia, as well as the Yerevan  mayor's office. Employees of the Rossotrudnichestvo representative  office in Armenia, servicemen from the Russian military base and the  Border Department of the FSB of Russia in Armenia, members of the  Yunarmiya and Young Friends of Border Guards movements,  representatives from public organizations, veterans and family  members of  blockade survivors were also. During the event, ministers  from the Armenian Apostolic and Russian Orthodox churches served a  liturgy for the victims of the blockade.