DUSHANBE (Asia-Plus) – Thee war veterans from Tajikistan have been invited to participate in the 2015 Moscow Victory Parade, a jubilee parade honouring the 70^th anniversary of the capitulation of Nazi Germany in 1945. The head of the Republican Council of Veterans of War and Labour, Rahmatullo Qudratov, says seven other veterans from Tajikistan have been invited by the Russian government to the Victors’ Ball that will take place at Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow on May 9.

WWII monument at Khorog, Tajikistan
(Credit: Le Gluon)

Tajiks began to be conscripted into the Soviet Army in 1939 and during World War II around 260,000 Tajik citizens fought against Germany, Finland and Japan. Between 60,000 (4%) and 120,000 (8%) of Tajikistan’s 1,530,000 citizens were killed during World War II. 54 of residents of Tajikistan were given the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Besides, 15 other Tajikistan’s residents were Full Holders of the Order of Glory. 926 veterans of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 lived in Tajikistan as of January 1, 2015.

Being a landmark jubilee parade honouring the 70^th anniversary of the Allied victory in the European continent, this year’s parade is also expected to be one of the biggest and largest to be held. Among those expected to come to this year’s event is President of Serbia, Tomislav Nikolic, President of the Czech Republic, Milos Zeman, President of Vietnam, Truong Tan sang, President of China, Xi Jinping, and Supreme Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un. In all, 26 international leaders will be in attendance this year.

The Soviet Victory Day or May 9 marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the Second World War. It was first inaugurated in the fifteen republics of the Soviet Union, following the signing of the surrender document late in the evening on May 8, 1945 (May 9 by Moscow Time). The Soviet government announced the victory early on May 9 after the signing ceremony in Berlin.