Islamabad : The Embassy of Russia here commemorated the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
The celebrations began with the “Immortal Regiment” march, attended by Russian Chargé d'Affaires Natalia Shmeleva, Russian Defence Attaché Colonel Vadim Fenchenko, the ambassadors of Belarus, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan together with their family members, the embassy's staff members, Russian community in Pakistan, as well as citizens of several Central Asian countries.
The "Immortal Regiment" is an annual public remembrance campaign held around Victory Day on May 9.
During the march, participants carry portraits of relatives who fought, perished, or contributed to the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War.
The embassy said the event symbolises the continuity of historical memory across generations and paid tribute to the sacrifice, courage and resilience of those who defended their homeland during the Second World War.
Also, as part of the celebrations marking the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Russian Embassy School hosted a commemorative concert.
The event was attended by the ambassadors of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
In opening remarks, Russian Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Natalia Shmeleva emphasised that Victory Day remained a symbol of courage, unity and the unparalleled feat of the peoples of the USSR, who, she said, crushed Nazism at the cost of immense sacrifice and hardship.
She condemned attempts to distort historical truth and revive Nazi ideology, stressing that Russia will continue to preserve the memory of the Great Victory of the Soviet people.
A particularly moving part of the evening was the recitation of wartime poetry and performances of heartfelt compositions by children of the embassy's staff members.
