Statement by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation member states in connection with the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from Nazi invaders

We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan, as we approach the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from Nazi invaders, honour the heroic deeds, courage, and unwavering fortitude displayed by the heroes during the Great Patriotic War.

Belarus was one of the first countries to be attacked by the Nazis in June 1941, enduring severe hardships. The Republic lost one-third of its population during the years of occupation. Numerous towns and villages were burned down and destroyed, and dozens of death camps and other sites of mass destruction were established. The village of Khatyn, which was burned together with all its residents, stands as a symbol of the suffering endured by the Belarusian people. The Maly Trostenets concentration camp, where more than 200,000 prisoners of war and civilians from the USSR and other European countries were exterminated, is also a sorrowful page of the Great Patriotic War.

The Nazis failed to break the fortitude and fighting spirit of the Belarusian people. The entire population rose up to fight the invaders. An unprecedented partisan and underground movement were organised on the territory of the republic, which made an invaluable contribution to driving out the enemy.

We take pride in the fact that thousands of people from our countries fought shoulder to shoulder with other nations to liberate Belarus from the Nazi invaders. We honour the memory of all Soviet citizens who gave their lives in fierce battles to free Belarus. Their bravery will forever be etched in history as an integral part of the fight against Nazism. The strategic offensive operation Bagration, which played a decisive role in the liberation of Belarus, stands as one of the greatest victories of the Second World War and a significant step towards liberating the entire European continent from Nazi oppression.

As we mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from Nazi invaders, we call upon everyone to preserve the memory of the unparalleled courage displayed by millions of soldiers, partisans, underground fighters, home front workers, and civilians who gave their lives in the struggle for peace and freedom.

Preserving the memory of the victory over Nazism, we firmly reject and condemn any attempts to revise the events and outcome of the Second World War. This includes efforts to assign equal blame for starting the war to both the Nazi criminals and the countries of the Anti-Hitler Coalition. It is essential to maintain and care for war graves and memorials from the Great Patriotic War, and any vandalism of these sites is unacceptable.

We call upon all states and nations to reject neo-Nazism and its ideology which justifies and glorifies Nazism and promotes racial, ethnic and religious intolerance. Any celebration or commemoration of the Nazi movement and former members of the Waffen-SS, such as the erection of monuments, renaming of streets or public rallies, is unacceptable and disrespectful. We categorically reject the notion that members of this organisation and those who collaborated with the Nazis while fighting against the Anti-Hitler Coalition were participants in national liberation movements.

In honour of all those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and independence of our peoples, and with deep gratitude towards the veterans to whom we owe an immense debt, we express our confidence that the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus will become a joyous celebration of peace and harmony. May it serve as a powerful reminder of the catastrophic consequences that can arise from the cultivation and acceptance of Nazi or any other ideology of hatred.