On May 9 at 8:30 am a wreath-laying ceremony took place at the “Candle of Remembrance” monument unveiled more than a year ago by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Russian President Vladimir Putin. The “Candle of Remembrance” was installed in the Saker Park in Jerusalem on January 23, 2020 in honor of the heroes who defended the city of Leningrad during the years-long blockade of World War II.

Today’s Victory Day event was hosted by the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress and was the first in a series of events held in Israel on this great day. The wreath-laying ceremony was attended by the president of the Congress, Dr. Michael Mirilashvili, the director general of the Congress, Dr. Haim Ben Yakov, Knesset members, ambassadors of the CIS countries, delegations of the diplomatic corps, veterans of the World War II and the survivors of the siege.

During his speech, EAJC president Dr. Mirilashvili said: “In Israel, the Victory Day is a state holiday. We are grateful to the soldiers of the anti-Hitler coalition and remember the heroism ofthe Soviet army that defeated Nazi Germany. Today is a holiday with tears in our eyes, as the song goes. There were terrible losses, but there was also a Great Victory. “