President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in the ceremonial events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Second World War on May 9 at the invitation of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
A Victory Parade took place in Red Square. Leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Belarusian Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadir Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and others also attended the event.
A group of Uzbek soldiers also marched in the parade.
“The victory in the Second World War is the result of the courage, bravery, and dedication of millions of people. The multi-ethnic people of Uzbekistan also made a significant contribution to this great cause.
At the beginning of the war, the population of our republic was over 6 million. During the war years, nearly two million Uzbeks were sent to the front. More than 538,000 people perished on the battlefields, and over 158,000 went missing.
For their bravery and courage, more than 214,000 soldiers and officers from Uzbekistan were awarded military orders and medals. 301 of our compatriots were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and another 70 became holders of all degrees of the "Shuhrat" order.
The Uzbek people also showed tremendous courage in labor. Our country became a reliable base for the front: food, clothing, medicine, weapons, and other necessary resources were continuously sent from here. In a short period, more than 170 evacuated enterprises were relocated to Uzbekistan, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the defense industry.
During those difficult years, the people of Uzbekistan demonstrated a high example of humanity, accepting more than 1.5 million people evacuated from the frontline areas, including over 250,000 orphaned children,” said the press service of the President of Uzbekistan.
The bravery of the Uzbek people during the war years is widely recognized in the international community.
In our country, special attention is paid to immortalizing the memory of participants in the war and labor fronts and providing social support to veterans. A magnificent "Victory Park" memorial complex has been built in Tashkent.
At the end of the Victory Parade, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, together with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and other heads of state, laid a wreath at the Unknown Soldier's grave in Alexander Garden.
This memorial is dedicated to the memory of millions of fighters who showed unparalleled courage and sacrificed their lives for victory, including the children of Uzbekistan.
The ceremony concluded with a minute of silence and the ceremonial march of the honor guard and military band.
