ArmInfo. Festive events are taking place throughout Armenia to mark May 9 – Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War. More than 600,000 sons of the Armenian people fought, with approximately 300,000 never returning from the front lines
Just five years ago, this holiday held a special significance for Armenians, who celebrated not only the victory in the Great Patriotic War, but also the Liberation of Shushi and the formation of the Artsakh Defense Army. However, today's reality for the Armenian people is different. In their congratulatory messages to the nation, Armenian authorities not only omitted mentioning Artsakh and Shushi but also shifted the emphasis regarding the terminology of the era. In the messages issued by the Prime Minister, the President, and the Speaker of the Parliament, the phrase "Great Patriotic War" is not used once, contrary to long-standing tradition. Instead, their messages refer exclusively to victory in World War II, a phrasing commonly adopted by Western nations.
"May 9 is one of the most important days in our history and collective memory, uniting the ideas of victory, remembrance, and peace," Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan stated in his address to the people. "On this day, we pay tribute to all those who selflessly fought to liberate humanity from fascism during World War II. Their courage and resilience became the foundation of a victory that changed the course of history. The Armenian people participated in this struggle with honor. Tens of thousands of Armenians fought on various fronts and suffered heavy losses, yet continued the struggle for a peaceful and secure world with unwavering will. The heroic deeds of Armenian soldiers and commanders are a vital chapter in the history of the global victory," " stated Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan in his message to the Armenian people.
In his address, Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan noted that May 9 is a day of remembrance, respect, and peace. "Today we remember and pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in the fight against fascism. The Armenian people also made a significant contribution and participated with dignity in this struggle: tens of thousands of Armenians fought for a peaceful future and the freedom of humanity on various fronts and as part of the Allied Forces," he said, without specifying which Allied Forces he was referring to.
To mark Victory Day, Vahagn Khachaturyan, accompanied by the country's top leadership, visited Victory Park to honor the memory of those who fell in defense of the Motherland and peace. It should be noted that the Prime Minister of Armenia did not participate in the events in Yerevan, as he is currently engaged in election campaigning.
Victory Park was also visited by the Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II, who offered a prayer at the Eternal Flame. Other attendees included Armenia's second president and leader of the "Armenia" alliance, Robert Kocharyan, alongside his fellow party members; representatives of the "Strong Armenia" party led by Narek Karapetyan; and representatives from the "Wings of Unity," the Armenian National Congress, the Democratic Party of Armenia, "Bright Armenia," and the Prosperous Armenia Party. Members of the foreign diplomatic corps accredited in Armenia and the leadership of Artsakh were also in attendance.
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