Ashgabat hosts retrospective military parade
“Turkmenistan has made deserved contribution to the Victory, by sending thousands of its sons and daughters to fierce fighting in the name of freedom of the Fatherland,” President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said, speaking at the People’s Memory Memorial Complex ahead of the military parade on occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory.
“We are sincerely proud of the heroism of our compatriots demonstrated in battles, their selfless work in the rear,” the Turkmen leader said. “Despite the fact that severe years of war have past long ago, suffering, pain and loss of people, their courage and heroic deeds will never be forgotten.”
The head of state noted the peacekeeping role of Turkmenistan, the importance of the neutrality status of country in strengthening of atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding between the countries.
Then, Deputy Defence Minister of Russian Federation, Colonel General Alexander Fomin delivered a welcoming speech. He noted that our forefathers, grandfathers and fathers courageously and selflessly fought arm-to-arm for the freedom and independence of the Motherland. More than 300,000 soldiers from Turkmenistan took part in the battles in all fronts of war and went up to the Reichstag walls. And the second front was in rare, where mothers, wives and even children worked for the Victory.
In Turkmenistan, industrial facilities, military hospital, and educational facilities were evacuated and agricultural production has been increased several times. Care and cordiality of fraternal Turkmen people who received orphan children from soviet republics affected by war will never be forgotten. This is a bright evidence of consolidation of entire country in front of cruel and merciless enemy. “We never forget courage that our grandfathers and fathers performed,” he emphasized.
Then, the ceremony of handing over Combat banner of the 748th Riffle Regiment, 206th Riffle Division, under which grandfather of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Berdimuhamed Annayev used to fight, took place. Today, this banner was delivered to Ashgabat from Russia.
The parade was opened by cadets and soldiers dressed in military uniform of wartime, they were followed by the battalion of motorized riflemen, anti-aircraft gunners, marines, artillery division, cavalrymen, special force, etc. The parade was continued with demonstration of military equipment of the Great Patriotic War days. The celebration was completed by the Immortal Regiment march.
ORIENT is working on preparation of a photo and video coverage of this event.
