‘We are proud of our ancestors’ heroism — each of them forged the Victory,’ says president

President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon today morning visited Dushanbe’s Victory Park, where he delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of remembering the heroic deeds of ancestors and expressing gratitude to war veterans, according to the Tajik president’s official website.

The president highlighted Tajikistan’s significant contribution to the great Victory.

"The Second World War is the most terrifying war in modern human history in terms of its scale and human tragedy. More than 70 countries were drawn into the vortex of war, which claimed over 55 million lives.

Tens of thousands of cities, both large and small, were destroyed, wiped out, and erased from the face of the earth.

According to specialists and experts, military spending and the total damage from this war now amount to US$4.5 trillion,” the president emphasized.

Although the battlefield was thousands of kilometers away from Tajikistan, Rahmon noted that the echoes of war were felt throughout the country, and every Tajik family suffered from this tragedy:

"Not only in cities, but even in the most remote villages of our country, there was no family that did not send a father, brother, son, or relative to fight against the fascist occupiers.”

He called the war “the darkest page in history and a great tragedy for the Tajik people”:

“Because out of 1.5 million residents of Tajikistan at the time, more than 300,000 were mobilized to the battlefield — that was 50 percent of the working-age population. Over 100,000 of them gave their lives in battle, more than 40,000 went missing, and another 60,000 returned from the war with disabilities. All these sacrifices, forever engraved in our modern history, symbolize the contribution of the Tajik people to this great Victory and to ensuring peace and security throughout the world.”

He also reminded the audience of the heavy consequences of war for Tajikistan: the country had to accept over 100,000 refugees and mobilize resources to support the front:

“Our people did not treat them as strangers; they gave them shelter, food, clothing, and raised most of them to adulthood.”

Many women and children worked in factories, supplying the front with everything necessary. More than 45,000 residents of Tajikistan were sent to industrial enterprises in other regions of the Soviet Union, and most of them were later mobilized to fight in the war.

A significant part of the president’s speech focused on preserving the memory of war heroes. He emphasized that 58,000 Tajik soldiers were awarded orders and medals, and 65 were honored with the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

He noted that the courage and resilience of the front-line soldiers are an example for the youth and the Armed Forces of the country. “We are proud of our ancestors’ heroism. Each of them forged the Victory — both on the front lines and on the home front. Their courage is our eternal guide,” said Emomali Rahmon.

The head of state again stressed the importance of peace and stability for future generations and recalled his initiative at the UN General Assembly to declare a “Decade of Peacebuilding for Future Generations”.

“Tajikistan, as a country that experienced a terrible imposed war, always advocates for the peaceful resolution of all disagreements and conflicts through negotiations.”

Emomali Rahmon congratulated veterans, war participants, and the people of Tajikistan on the anniversary of Victory, wishing them strong health, well-being, and stability.

After the wreath-laying ceremony, the president attended and observed a military parade held in Victory Park to mark the 80th anniversary of the Victory.