Dmitriy Kobitskiy Congratulated Siege Survivors Living in CIS Countries on 80th Anniversary of Liberation of Leningrad

27 January 2024 is the 80th anniversary of the complete liberation of Leningrad from the Nazi Siege. On the occasion of one of the most important dates in the history of the Great Patriotic War, Secretary General of the IPA CIS Council Dmitriy Kobitskiy sent congratulations to the veterans and residents of the besieged Leningrad to the Commonwealth countries.

“The deadly confrontation of the defenders of besieged Leningrad with the fascist invaders lasted 872 days, and it is difficult to convey how much sorrow, pain and deprivation these terrible days contained. On this day we remember the heroes who found strength in inhuman conditions to work every day in defense of the besieged city, to fight on the front line, protecting their relatives and friends - there are no similar feats in world history”, emphasized Dmitriy Kobitskiy.

The Nazis cynically and treacherously tried to wipe the city off the map, to deprive Leningraders of their faith in victory by force, to exterminate the civilian population with a barrage of artillery. Having witnessed such brutal and cruel treatment, the citizens of Leningrad did not lose their human dignity, did not stand on the same level with the Nazis, but heroically defended their land. Their fortitude and love for their homeland proved to be more powerful than enemy guns and shells, the appeal says.

“The memory of the victims, like a fire in the heart of each of us, is reverently passed from generation to generation. It is our duty to preserve the memory of the terrible days of the siege and to do everything possible to ensure that this tragedy in the history of mankind is never repeated”, the Secretary General believes.

These days St. Petersburg is welcoming the siege survivors from more than 10 countries, including Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. On the eve of the memorable date, the plenary session of the XXIX Congress of International Association of Public Organizations of Survivors of Siege of Hero City Leningrad took place in the Smolniy Palace. The Congress brought together over 140 delegates.

Tomorrow the siege survivors will participate in laying flowers and wreaths at the Piskarevskoye Memorial Cemetery.

An extensive cultural program has also been prepared for them, which includes a city tour, visits to museums and exhibitions, and a concert.