Alexander Subbotin at the Mound of Friendship: Belarusians and Russians have an amazing heroic history and a great future

The peoples of Belarus and Russia have an amazing heroic history and a great bright future. This opinion was shared by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Subbotin, at a meeting at the Mound of Friendship with journalists, BELTA correspondent reports.

The head of the northern region of Belarus noted that such meetings as the one at the Mound of Friendship are important for both peoples. "We have everything in common: an amazing heroic history, an equally heroic present, and, I think, the greatest and brightest future, which is why this meeting is another bond," he stressed.

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The common victory and unity of peoples are at the heart of such events, added the head of the Vitebsk region. "And this is just one of the moments that draw us together, unite us and make us stronger. Therefore, these events are very important, giving us an extra reason to visit each other, to embrace, to understand that we are kindred and that we are one big family," said Alexander Subbotin.

Today, the 64th meeting of delegations from two countries is taking place at the Kurgan Druzhby (Friendship Mound) at the junction of three states - Belarus, Russia, and Latvia. Here, former partisans and underground fighters, and today - their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, together commemorate their comrades who died in battles for their native land. In recent years, the format of the meeting has changed, and representatives of Latvia do not participate in it. A few years ago, they used to hand over wreaths and flowers across a small river, the Sinyukha, on a bridge every July 3. The bridge itself is also gone - it was dismantled by the Latvian side in November last year. Now, their territory is fenced off by a high metal fence with barbed wire.

Partisans and underground fighters held their first meeting at the mound on July 3, 1959. The mound was built from earth taken from the graves of fallen countrymen (it is located in Latvia). Alleys lead from the mound towards the three countries, each of which has monuments to partisans killed and tortured by the enemy during the war years.

"BELTA"