Putin: Russia will never be able to “understand and accept” the demolition of monuments to Soviet soldiers
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 to 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 destroy the discovery, to destroy what reminds us, tells about the heroism of our ancestors, about their courage, suffering and sacrifice,” Putin said.
He noted that he was looking at the demolition of monuments to Soviet soldiers in the vicinity of European countries “with pain in his heart.” This action of the Russian leader is characterized 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 heads 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, competitions were held in Riga on the monument to Soviet soldiers-installers – the liberators of Latvia and Riga from the Nazi invaders.
Moscow condemned such a move. The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, called the action of the Latvian lawyers a high level of neo-Nazism. The Kremlin called the demolition of the monuments a “war against the liberated”, but the Russian authorities have no opportunity to prevent this, said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
In addition, in early September, the Vilnius authorities managed to dismantle the monument to Soviet soldiers at the Antakalnis cemetery. Demolish the monument until November 1st. In the decision of the burial in the capital, it was noted that this would help the dismantling of the complex of Soviet burials. World War II.
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