Most European countries celebrate the victory over Nazi Germany on May 8 remembering the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces. It thus marked the end of World War II in Europe. Russia, Belarus and many other former Soviet republics commemorate Victory Day on May 9.
Our country is to start the official part of celebration with the parade ‘Belarus Remembers’ at 10:45 on Independence Avenue in Minsk. The participants will be marching to Victory Square holding portraits of heroes of the war.
In Victory Square there will be tribunes for the war veterans. The Belarusians will lay flowers to the monument of Great Victory; a festive waltz will be played. Belarusian president Alyaksandr Lukashenka is expected to take part in the celebrations.
(UPD) “On behalf of the grateful people that live in Belarus I address those, who are no longer with us as well as Great Patriotic War veterans and homefront workers. We bow low to your deeds and state with honor that we hold sacred the memory about your victory, about our victory. We have not allowed and will not allow anyone to distort the truth about this victory, to falsify and take it away from our children and grandchildren. We have done and will do everything necessary for them to live in a peaceful and independent country,” state-run news agency BelTA quotes Lukashenka’s Victory Day as saying.
In the evening the Presidential Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus will give a gala concert at which Belarusian and foreign artists will perform.
