Russia celebrates People`s Unity Day

Today Russia is celebrating a national holiday – People`s Unity Day. This is a holiday of patriotism, civil consciousness and love of the Motherland, which are the fundamental values that have always united the multinational state of Russia. The holiday was established as a tribute to the events dating back to 1612, when people`s militia was formed under the leadership of Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky, which eventually freed Moscow from Polish-Lithuanian invaders.

That event became a turning point in the history of the Vague time, and was followed by liberation of the whole country.

The heroic deed of the Russian people was immortalized in 1818, when according to the decree of Emperor Alexander I a monument to Citizen Minin and Prince Pozharsky by Ivan Martos was erected on the Red Square. That was the first monument in the Russian history dedicated to national heroes rather than the Tzar or a military commander.

"We are rightfully proud of the Motherland, its rich history and culture, centuries-old traditions of patriotism and citizenship. The memory of the deeds of the ancestors who defended the freedom and independence of the country, the responsibility for the destiny of the Fatherland, the desire for peace and good-neighborliness were and remain the main values of our multinational people", emphasized Valentina Matvienko.