On April 18, 2025, in St. Petersburg, as part of the IPA CIS spring session, the fifty-eighth plenary meeting of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States was held at the organization’s headquarters, the Tavrichesky Palace, chaired by Valentina Matvienko, Chairman of the IPA CIS Council. CIS Secretary General Sergey Lebedev attended the meeting along with the heads of delegations.
A solemn meeting of the CIS MIA dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 was held in the Tauride Duma Hall. The speakers discussed joining forces to protect history and memory.
Speaking to the audience, CIS Secretary General Sergey Lebedev noted that “the 80th anniversary of our common Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 will be the central event of 2025 in the Commonwealth countries.
The heads of State of the Commonwealth declared this year the Year of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War – the Year of Peace and Unity in the Fight against Nazism.
At the summit of heads of state held in October 2024, the heads of the CIS member states unanimously adopted an Appeal to the peoples of the Commonwealth countries and the world community on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, in which the leaders of our countries called on the peoples of the world to prevent the revival of fascism, Nazism, and militarism, and to stop attempts to unleashing a new world war.
The Heads of our States appealed to the peoples of the Commonwealth countries and the world community to condemn and prevent the falsification of history, to resolutely oppose the justification and glorification of Nazi, fascist and similar nationalist movements and their followers, to prevent the construction of monuments and memorials promoting racism, religious discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in all its forms and manifestations.
The leaders of the Commonwealth countries welcomed the UN General Assembly resolution “Combating the glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other Practices that contribute to the escalation of modern forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,” and expressed their commitment to the goals and principles of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The CIS heads of State stressed that they consider the broad support for these important documents as confirmation of the determination of the international community to prevent the repetition of tragic mistakes of the past and to build the future on a unifying basis.”
Sergei Lebedev emphasized: “Taking into account the world-historical significance of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 and guided by the desire of the member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States to celebrate this significant anniversary with dignity, the heads of our countries decided to establish a jubilee medal dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. As you know, such medals are already being awarded during the celebrations taking place in our countries these days.
Also, in order to perpetuate the feat of home front workers during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, the Regulations on the honorary title of the Commonwealth of Independent States “City of Labor Glory of 1941-1945″ were approved. A number of States have already submitted their candidate cities for these honorary titles.
The action plan for the preparation and celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War this year, approved by the heads of Government of the Commonwealth countries, involves the implementation of a number of events dedicated to significant events and memorable dates. These include military parades, wreath-laying ceremonies and flowers at monuments, memorials, mass graves and places of military glory in the capitals and hero cities of the CIS countries.”
Concluding his speech, the CIS Secretary General said: “Our common duty is to sacredly honor the bright memory of those who died for freedom and peace on Earth, to defend with all our might the just cause for which they fought and gave their lives, and to strengthen the unity of all people of good will in the fight against any manifestations of Nazism and neo–Nazism, as well as the threat of a new world War II”.
Press Service of the CIS Executive Committee
Source https://e-cis.info/news/564/126774/
