Russia Hosts Exhibition Honoring Victims of Soviet Genocide During World War II

Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Pakistan on Friday hosted an official opening ceremony for a photo exhibition marking the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Genocide of the Soviet People during the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945.

The event, held in Islamabad, brought together ambassadors of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, alongside heads of diplomatic missions from Cuba, Iran, Kenya, Rwanda, Syria and Zimbabwe. Representatives from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as diplomats from Kazakhstan, Egypt and other nations, also attended the ceremony.

Members of the Russian community residing in Pakistan and representatives from Pakistan’s academic circles were present at the event, reflecting broad international and local participation.

Addressing the gathering, Russian Ambassador Albert P. Khorev highlighted that Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 marked the beginning of one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. He emphasized that the invasion aimed not only at territorial expansion but also at the systematic destruction of a significant portion of the Soviet population.

The ambassador underscored the immense human cost of the war, noting that out of approximately 27 million Soviet lives lost, around 14 million civilians fell victim to deliberate extermination policies, including mass executions and torture in concentration camps.

Sharing a personal reflection, Ambassador Khorev recounted the forced deportation of his great-grandmother to Germany for slave labor, a tragedy that he said was endured by millions of Soviet families during the war.

He further noted that the designation of April 19 as the Day of Remembrance by Russian President Vladimir Putin is grounded, among other factors, in the verdict of the Nuremberg Trials, which established the systematic nature of Nazi crimes.

In his concluding remarks, the ambassador stressed the importance of preserving historical memory and preventing any distortion of the events of the Great Patriotic War, reaffirming Russia’s commitment to countering manifestations of neo-Nazism.

During the ceremony, Dr. Gul-i-Ayesha Bhatti, Director of CAPS PAK Eurasian Chapter, also addressed participants, highlighting that the immense sacrifices and heroism of the Soviet people during World War II played a crucial role in enabling the free and independent development of Europe.

The event concluded with participants lighting candles in remembrance of the victims, followed by a minute of silence.

The exhibition, featuring archival materials documenting the genocide of the Soviet people, will remain open to visitors at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts until April 19.

The Russian Embassy expressed gratitude to the Victory Museum and the State Historical Museum for providing the exhibition materials.