On the border of Belarus and Russia, near the Mound of Friendship in the Verkhnedvinsk district, the Relay of Victory took place.

The relay runs along the CIS border and is dedicated to the 70th anniversary of an event significant for our countries. The symbol of the relay was received from the Polotsk border guards by the employees of the border department of the FSB for the Pskov region. The event was attended by the Deputy Chairman of the State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus, Major General Vladimir Moiseenko, the Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Vladimir Terentiev, and the Chairman of the Verkhnedvinsk District Executive Committee Igor Markovitch. From the Russian side, the event was attended by the Head of the border department of the FSB for the Pskov region, Major General Alexander Murzin, and the Governor of the Pskov region Andrey Turchak. Esteemed guests of this significant event included veterans of the Great Patriotic War, alongside whom were young people, as well as representatives of the clergy and many others who gave thanks for the Victory. A rally was held at the Mound of Friendship, and flowers were laid. From the Pskov land, the symbol of the relay will travel to Smolensk region, and by May 28th it will arrive in Moscow, where it will be met at Poklonnaya Hill.

We remind you that on February 16th, the international relay was received from Smorgon colleagues by the border guards of the Polotsk border detachment, and on the morning of the 17th, it was already in Braslav. Here, by the fraternal grave in the city square, a rally was held with the participation of veterans of the Great Patriotic War, representatives of local authorities, border troops and the public, youth and schoolchildren.

The celebration began with a poignant performance by three young men dressed in the uniform of Soviet soldiers, who read excerpts from various works dedicated to the feat of the Soviet people and the feelings of front-line soldiers who returned home and found neither their native homes nor their families.

This theme was continued in the speech of the Chairman of the District Council of Deputies, Nina Puchinskaya. No matter how much time has passed since May

1945, she emphasized, Victory Day will remain in the people's memory as a day of justice, honor, and at the same time, universal sorrow for millions of fallen people.

— We bow our heads before the great feat, honor the memory of the fallen, and care for those heroes who live among us, — said Nina Puchinskaya. — And using the example of your generation, veterans, we will educate the youth.

The scale of the relay was recalled to those present by the Deputy Head of the Ideological Work Department of the State Border Committee of Belarus, Colonel Viktor Plisik. The speaker noted that a number of CIS countries are participating in this important socio-political event, and Mongolia has also joined.

– I want to remind everyone we meet on our way that the Great Victory is our common achievement. Today, the duty of every honest person is to make every effort to ensure that the fire of war does not scorch our land again. We must preserve the memory of those who defeated fascism, and not allow historical events to be falsified, – the officer noted.

This was also spoken about by the chairman of the district organization of the Council of Veterans, Ivan Telezhnikov. Welcoming the participants of the relay and thanking them for organizing such an important action, he gave numerous examples of the heroism of border guards on Belarusian soil in the early days of the war.

The Victory Relay was supported by all the heads of the CIS participating countries. Their appeal to the peoples of the Commonwealth and the whole world was announced by reserve Colonel, Secretary of the Republican Council of Veterans of Border Guard Services, Mikhail Skomsky. May there always be a peaceful sky over our country!

Tamara Pashkevich, "Vitebskiye Vesti"