ATHENS, May 9 Russian Ambassador to Greece Andrei Maslov and On Victory Day, Defense Attache Major General Alexander Prikhodko laid a wreath at the monument to Soviet soldiers who died for the freedom and independence of Greece, on Singrou Avenue in Athens.
Employees of the Russian embassy and the military attaché took part in the ceremony.
For the first time since the pandemic, the Immortal Regiment will be held in person, the Russian Ambassador told Russian journalists.
«By tradition, the Russian Embassy, the Consulate General in Thessaloniki, our Honorary Consulate and the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots have developed an extensive program of events to celebrate the 78th anniversary of the Great Victory. The program covers the period from May 5 to May 12,» Maslov said.
According to him, on May 5, a round table was held at the Russian Center for Science and Culture on the role of Russia and Greece in World War II, on May 7, a festive concert was held in the city of Katerini, films of Soviet film classics dedicated to the Great Patriotic war.
«Today is the main day. Today, a wreath was laid at the monument to Soviet soldiers who died for the independence, for the freedom of Greece. In Thessaloniki, employees of the Consulate General will lay a wreath today at the allied Zeitenlink cemetery. In Crete, in Rethymno, with the participation of the embassy and the honorary consulate, flowers will be laid at the municipal cemetery to the monument to 33 Red Army soldiers who gave their lives in the fight against the Nazi invaders here in Greece,» the ambassador said.
«For the first time after the pandemic, our compatriots in Greece decided to hold the Immortal Regiment campaign in full-time format. In Athens, it will take place here, near this monument on Singru Avenue. It will take place on the island of Corfu and in the city of Larisa,» Maslov said.
According to him, other mass events will be held throughout Greece.
After the ceremony, employees of the military attache went to lay wreaths at the grave of Soviet soldier Nikolai Shevel at the allied cemetery in Paleo Faliro in Athens.
Ordinary citizens and representatives of public organizations brought flowers and wreaths to the monument in the morning. Near the monument there are wreaths with the inscriptions «Honor and glory of the Red Army», «In honor of the great anti-fascist Victory of the peoples», «Long live May 9».
Employees of the Russian embassy and the military attache were congratulated on the Victory Day by the former First Deputy Minister of Defense of Greece Kostas Isichos, who, together with party members, came to honor the memory of Soviet servicemen who died in the struggle for the freedom of Greece.