The international conference “The Great Patriotic War in the Collective Memory of the Commonwealth Peoples: Marking the 80th Anniversary of the Victory” is being held at the Tavrichesky Palace in St. Petersburg from December 4 to 5, 2025.
A greeting to the event organizers and participants was sent by CIS Secretary-General Sergey Lebedev.
Sergey Lebedev stated that the 80th anniversary of the Victory over fascism had been the central event of 2025 in the Commonwealth, a contribution to which was made by every republic of the Soviet Union. The memory of those who rose to defend the Motherland, who did not return from the battlefield, and whose selfless labor in the rear forged the Great Victory, lives on in the hearts of people across the entire Commonwealth space.
The Secretary-General reminded the gathering that “the words of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly Council Chairperson, Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Valentina Matviyenko, had spoken on April 18, 2025, at the Solemn Meeting of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945, could serve as a prologue to today’s event. Valentina Matviyenko stated that the Great Patriotic War had forever entered the world chronicles and the historical memory of the Commonwealth as a symbol of the unity, courage and resilience of the peoples of the CIS countries”.
Sergey Lebedev also noted that, by the CIS Heads of State Council’s Decision, the year 2025 had been declared the Year of the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War – the Year of Peace and Unity in the Fight Against Nazism.
“I am convinced that it is our common duty to sacredly honor the bright memory of those who perished for freedom and peace on Earth, to defend with all our might the just cause for which they fought and gave their lives, and to tirelessly strengthen the unity of all people of goodwill in the struggle against any manifestations of Nazism and neo-Nazism, as well as the threat of a new world war”, – summarized the CIS Secretary-General.
Sergey Lebedev wished all participants and organizers of the international conference “The Great Patriotic War in the Collective Memory of the Commonwealth Peoples: Marking the 80th Anniversary of Victory” productive discussions and all the very best!