Putin: Russia will never be able to “understand and accept” the demolition of monuments to Soviet soldiers
[ad_1]
Russia will never be able to “understand and accept” the demolition of monuments to Soviet soldiers, and such steps that are being taken in European countries cause “heartache”. This statement was made by Russian President Vladimir Putin during the opening ceremony of the Saur-Mogila memorial in the DPR. Video message transcript published on the Kremlin website.
We remember our relatives <...>we store and restore memorials in their honor and we will never be able to understand and accept the desire to destroy, destroy what reminds us, tells about the heroism of our ancestors, about their courage, suffering and sacrifices,” Putin said.
He noted that he looks at the demolition of monuments to Soviet soldiers in a number of European countries “with pain in his heart.” The Russian leader described such actions as a “cynical betrayal” of his ancestors.
Over the past few months, the authorities of the Baltic countries and Poland have repeatedly announced their intention to demolish monuments dedicated to the heroes of World War II. So, in mid-August, a monument to the Soviet T-34 tank in Narva was removed from the pedestal in Estonia. On August 23, the dismantling of the monument to Soviet soldiers, the liberators of Latvia and Riga from the Nazi invaders, began in Riga.
Moscow condemned such a move. The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, called the actions of the Latvian authorities a manifestation of neo-Nazism. The Kremlin called the demolition of the monuments a “war on history,” but the Russian authorities have no way to prevent this, said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
In addition, in early September, the Vilnius authorities announced plans to dismantle the monument to Soviet soldiers at the Antakalnis cemetery. The monument is to be demolished by November 1st. The city municipality noted that this decision will help to begin the dismantling of the complex of Soviet burials from the Second World War.
Subscribe on “Vedomosti” in Telegram and stay up to date with the main news of the economy and business
[ad_2]
Source link
