ISLAMABAD, Saturday, April 18, 2026 (WNP): The Embassy of Russia on Friday inaugurated a photo exhibition marking the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Genocide of the Soviet People during the Great Patriotic War.
The ceremony was attended by ambassadors of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, along with envoys and representatives from several friendly countries, including Cuba, Iran, Kenya, Rwanda, Syria and Zimbabwe. Officials from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, members of the academic community, and Russian expatriates also participated.
Addressing the gathering, Russian Ambassador Albert P. Khorev highlighted that Nazi Germany’s 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union marked the beginning of one of the bloodiest chapters in human history, aimed at territorial expansion and systematic destruction of populations.
He emphasized the scale of atrocities committed against civilians, noting that of the estimated 27 million Soviet lives lost during the war, around 14 million were victims of deliberate extermination through executions, forced labor, and concentration camps.
The ambassador also shared a personal account of his great-grandmother’s deportation to Germany for forced labor, describing it as part of a broader tragedy that affected millions of Soviet families.
He noted that the designation of April 19 as the remembrance day by Russian President Vladimir Putin is rooted in the findings of the Nuremberg Trials, which established the systematic nature of Nazi crimes.
Ambassador Khorev underscored the importance of preserving historical memory and preventing distortion of World War II events, reaffirming Russia’s commitment to countering neo-Nazism.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Gul-i-Ayesha Bhatti highlighted that the sacrifices and resilience of the Soviet people played a decisive role in securing freedom and enabling the post-war development of Europe.
The ceremony concluded with participants lighting candles and observing a minute of silence in memory of the victims.
The exhibition, featuring archival material on wartime atrocities, will remain open to the public at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts until April 19.
