01.JPG
December 5, 2010

Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva inaugurated the memorial plaque to Azerbaijani soldiers died for defense of Leningrad

Head of Heydar Aliyev Foundation`s Russia Representation Leila Aliyeva inaugurated the memorial plaque to Azerbaijani soldiers died for defense of Leningrad.


The plaque was opened in International Alley of Glory and Memory of Soldier’s Memorial Nevsky Pyatochok. The project was implemented under patronage of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation`s Russia Office with support of the Government of Leningrad Oblast.

 

Vice Governor of Leningrad Oblast Alexander Kuznetsov said opening of the memorial plaque testifies that nations and heads of our states remain faithful to memory of fathers and grandfathers.

 

Leila Aliyeva thanked participants, who came to pay tribute to the memory of Azerbaijani soldiers. She said nations in former Soviet Union showed an unprecedented courage in the Great Patriotic War. Azerbaijani nation made a great contribution to the victory over fascism. More than 300 thousand Azerbaijanis died in the fields of battle. L.Aliyeva said: ‘Pilot Huseynbala Aliyev performed a feat by shooting down 2 planes of enemy and got the highest award – Order of Lenin. Defense of Leningrad lasted 900 days. Hundreds of thousands died of hunger, cold and bombing. But neither artillery fires nor permanent risk of death broke the iron will and patriotic soul of Leningrad residents. The city stood and today’s developing St Petersburg confirms the status of the world’s culture capital’.

 

The Head of Heydar Aliyev Foundation`s Delegation in Russia noted the list of 850 Azerbaijanis, who died in the fight to lift siege of Leningrad in Nevsky Pyatachok and Sinavinsky hills, was published in the Memory Book of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Leila Aliyeva said: ‘Nevsky Pyatachok battle field is one of the most brave and tragic pages in the military history. The membership of fighters in the battle field was completely changed almost daily – the dead were replaced by new battlers. The sculptor from Petersburg has already created the monument, which will be erected next year on Sinyavinsk heights with support of Leningrad Oblast Government under patronage of the Foundation’s Representation. The future generations will always remember the courage of fighters. It is very nice that many youth are present in this event. It is very necessary that they honor the memory of their fathers and grandfathers who sacrificed themselves for the homeland. Thanks to the unity and friendship of our nations we managed to gain the Great Victory. This victory confirmed that we can achieve the peace and happy future of our citizens only together’.

 

L.Aliyeva expressed thanks to Governor of Leningrad Oblast Valeri Serdyukov and the Oblast Government for the support to the project, sculptors Gennady Belousov and Andrei Rytov for implementing the project.

 

Consul General of Azerbaijan in St Petersburg Gudsi Osmanov underlined the importance of opening of the memorial plaque to those died in the battles for Leningrad in 1941-45. He said the Great Victory was guaranteed as result of friendship and unity of our nations only.

 

Mufti Jafar Ponchayev said a prayer for the battlers died.

 

Leila Aliyeva and Alexander Kuznetsov opened a memorial plaque. Participants laid flowers at the plaque. Guard of honor paid tribute to the memory of the heroes. 

 

Leila Aliyeva also visited Museum-Reserve ‘Break-Through Siege of Leningrad’. Employees of the Reserve talked of the central exposition – the diorama reflecting the 1943 stories that were a turning point in defence of Leningrad. 

 

Mrs Aliyeva expressed gratitude to employees of the Museum for honoring the loving memory of the heroes, presented the Museum with book ‘Azerbaijanis heroically died in fights to lift fascist siege of Leningrad’, which contains the list of Azerbaijanis died in the battles for Leningrad name by name (850 persons), published under support of Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

 

Representative of Russian Foreign Ministry in Yekaterinburg Vladimir Zapevalov, Leningrad Oblast Kirov District Head Nicolay Yemelyanov, delegates from Japanese and Lithuanian consulates general, Honor Consulate of Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan diaspora, Azerbaijanis studying at the higher schools in St Petersburg were present in the ceremony.


PHOTO