Veterans from Belarus, Russia, and Latvia gathered at the Mound of Friendship

"This is a historical land, where there was no border, where our peoples fought for a common cause, shed blood together. Unfortunately, today a boundary has been drawn through the memorial complex. But the most important thing is that over these years, there have been no borders in our hearts, and there are none. Everyone has someone who died in their family. We are all involved in the Great Victory. Let's live in peace, be friends, communicate," Nikolai Sherstnev urged at the rally.

Common memory and pain, common Victory, in his opinion, is a fertile ground for building good-neighborly relations, effective cultural and economic ties, joint production of goods, and increasing trade turnover in cross-border regions. "This will be our generation's contribution to the common Victory, to what our grandfathers fought for," Nikolai Sherstnev concluded.

The Governor of the Pskov Region, Andrey Turchak, and the Member of the Saeima of Latvia, Arturs Rubiks, expressed solidarity with these words in their speeches. "The more we talk about, remind what war is, the more young people will understand its real threat and will never want to participate in it. We are eagerly awaiting the time when there will be no border, when we can embrace, become brothers, and share our thoughts," Arturs Rubiks added.

Participants of the international meeting at the Mound of Friendship

The friends agreed to supplement the event with an official meeting of youth delegations next year. This was announced at a rally at the junction of three states by Nikolai Sherstnev. "If earlier mainly the veteran movement gathered here, now we see that youth prevails. Their interest indicates that there are successors to the traditions. And we have already agreed that next year it is necessary to elevate our youth to the level of official delegations. Although they have their own event at the Kurgan - a 7-day camp. But we would like them to feel those emotions, to see the tears of veterans when they embrace upon meeting after years. It is our duty to instill as much love for the veteran movement and patriotism in general as possible," noted Nikolai Sherstnev. The first step has already been taken: for the first time at the meeting, along with the traditional partisan bonfire of friendship, a youth bonfire was held - a meeting of young people from the Verkhnedvinsky and Sebezhsky districts.

The 58th international meeting of front-line soldiers, partisans and underground fighters of Belarus, Russia, and Latvia took place at the Kurgan of Friendship at the junction of three states. Russia was the host country this year. The meeting began with laying flowers and wreaths - first at the monument to Hero of the Soviet Union Maria Pynto in the host country, then at the monument to the Komsomol heroes of the village of Proshki on Belarusian land.

And in conclusion, the governors of the Pskov and Vitebsk regions, Andrey Turchak and Nikolai Sherstnev, handed over a basket of flowers to the Latvian side for laying at the monument to Hero of the Soviet Union Imants Sudmalis. This moment became the most touching episode of the day: the participants of the celebrations, separated by the small Sineya River, along which the border line between Russia and Latvia runs, waved to each other, exchanged greetings, expressed friendship and love, and then sang "Katyusha" in unison.

The Kurgan of Friendship was erected in 1959 on the border of three republics - BSSR, RSFSR, and Latvian SSR in honor of the military brotherhood of partisans of Belarus, Russia, and Latvia. The land for it was taken from the graves of partisans and Red Army soldiers, from the places of death of Alexander Matrosov, Klavdia Nazarova, Leonid Golikov, Maria Poryvaeva, and other heroes. To the kurgan

three alleys have been laid: from Belarus – birch, from Russia – maple, from Latvia – linden. An oak tree grows at the top of the Kurgan – a symbol of the unbreakable friendship of the three peoples. On three granite slabs in three languages, it is written: "The Kurgan of Friendship was erected at the junction of the borders of three fraternal republics in honor of the combat friendship cemented by blood during the Great Patriotic War by Russian, Belarusian, and Latvian partisans. Opened on July 3, 1959."

Ekaterina Knyazeva – BELTA. Photos from the official website of the city of Pskov and Tatiana Pasternak – "Vitebskiye Vesti".