Exhibition of the Russian Embassy on the occasion of Victory Day over Fascism

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism, the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Macedonia tonight at the Museum of the City of Skopje organized a historic-documentary exhibition titled « The Road to the Great Victory », featuring historical records and archive photographs of the Russian news agency,  » from Prilep and the Macedonian State Archives.

The exhibition, made up of more than 130 photographs, is a detailed visual chronicle of the events of the Great Homeland War of 1941–1945 and will be open until May 13.

The opening ceremony, the importance of the great victory over fascism and the exhibition, was spoken by Russian Ambassador to Macedonia, Sergei Bazdnikin.

« With this exhibition we pay tribute and deep respect for the unprecedented courage, self -sacrifice and spiritual force of the Soviet soldiers and the whole Soviet people, who not only defended their homeland from the fascist invasion, but also made a decisive contribution to the liberation of many European countries. »

The exposed matter was translated into Macedonian, and materials were used for the « Encyclopedia of Macedonia », published in 2009, in the editorial office of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

-The exhibition is dedicated to the most important date-not only for the Russian people, but for the whole world-the 80th anniversary of the great victory over fascism. For the meaning of this – world for us – I wrote in more detail in a column published three days ago in the newspaper « Nova Makedonija ». I want to express my gratitude to the Museum of the City of Skopje
and personally to the director Dr. Pance Velkov for the joint organization of this important event. We highly appreciate such a relationship, which contributes to the preservation of historical memory and centuries -old humanitarian and cultural links between our countries and fraternal peoples – said Bazdikin.

The Russian ambassador specifically referred to the participation of the Macedonian people in the anti -fascist boron, adding that « we bow down to the courage of the Macedonian people, the Partisans – the heroes of the People’s Liberation Struggle in Macedonia during World War II, which we fearlessly opposed the terrible threat to the terrible threat – Soldiers. « 

Victory Day over Fascism will also be marked on May 8, on May 9 in Skopje at 12 noon, where flowers will be organized.

The address of the Ambassador Bazdnikin at the opening of the exhibition we convey in its entirety:

– I warmly welcome you to the opening of the historic documentary exhibition « The Road to the Great Victory », prepared by the Embassy of the Russian Federation using archive photos from the Russian news agency RIA Novosti. Of course, all texts and inscriptions have been translated into Macedonian. I would like to turn your attention to the fact that in preparation we have cooperated with Macedonian organizations – the Municipal Organization of the Union of Fighters of the National Liberation and Anti -Fascist Struggle in Prilep and the State Archives, which have sent materials involved in the exhibition we present to you. Thanks them for cooperation.

We also used available sources, above all « Encyclopedia
of Macedonia ”, published in 2009 under the editorial office of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

The exhibition is dedicated to the most important date-not only for the Russian people, but for the whole world-the 80th anniversary of the great victory over fascism. For the meaning of this – world for us – I wrote in more detail in a column published three days ago in the newspaper « Nova Makedonija » – I will not repeat what I already said.

-First of all I would like to express my gratitude to the Museum of the City of Skopje and personally to the Director Dr. Velkov for the joint organization of this important event. We highly appreciate such a relationship, which contributes to the preservation of historical memory and centuries -old humanitarian and cultural links between our countries and fraternal peoples.
The exhibition, consisting of more than 130 photographs, is a detailed visual chronicle of the events of the Great Homeland War of 1941–1945. It will be open to anyone interested by May 13. From the first days of Nazi Germany’s attack on the Soviet Union to the long -awaited victory – every photo depicts the pain, courage, hope and heroism of the Soviet people. During the war, correspondents, at the heart of dreadful events and often risking their lives, gathering information about the course of fighting, noting not only moments of fierce battles, but also the daily lives of civilians – to those who worked in factories, survived the horrors of occupation and suffering from bombing. They tried to preserve for future generations the history and memory of this time through years of difficulties and obstacles, which ended with the great victory in May 1945. With this exhibition, we pay tribute and deep respect for the unprecedented courage, self -sacrifice and spiritual power of the Soviet soldiers and the whole Soviet people, who not only defended their homeland from the fascist invasion, but also made the decisive contribution to the liberation of many European countries. It is scary to imagine and it is impossible to determine the price they pay for the victory. World War II involved 57 countries, their total losses being about 50 million people. Of these, almost 27 million were citizens of the Soviet Union. The material damage was huge: over 1.7,000 cities and settlements were destroyed, more than 70,000 villages.
We also bow down to the courage of the Macedonian people, the Partisans – the heroes of the People’s Liberation Struggle in Macedonia during World War II, which fearlessly opposed the terrible threat of fascism – the so -called « brown plague » that threatened all Europe. So we decided to include photos that illustrate their combat route.
Side by side, Russian soldiers fought with them, sharing the aspiration for freedom and justice, sacrificing their lives for the independence and the peaceful future of the Macedonian country. This common struggle has become a living embodiment of solidarity and brotherhood that united nations in the darkest times of world history. Meaning of project implementation like today is difficult to overestimate. Unfortunately, in our time we are witnessing attempts to twist, silence or tendentious interpretation of the historical truth about the victory over fascism. More than that, efforts are being made to blame the Soviet Union of the commencement of World War II, and the activities of Nazi aides – especially in some countries, primarily in Ukraine and the Baltic states – trying to present themselves in heroic light as a struggle for national independence. Before us is a sacred task – to preserve the historical memory of the tragic events of World War II and its lessons, so as not to repeat such events again. We have to remember those who at the cost of their lives have protected the world from fascist tyranny, those to whom we live today by life and freedom – said the Russian ambassador in his speech.