10/21/2024
Exhibition opened on the occasion of the Belgrade Liberation Day
Belgrade, October 20 - An exhibition on Soviet-Yugoslav military diplomacy during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 was officially opened at the Presidency of Serbia and the postage stamp issued by the Post of Serbia on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade from the Nazi occupation was promoted.
The ceremony was addressed by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, who spoke in Russian as a sign of respect for all Red Army soldiers, as well as the Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council, Konstantin Kosachev.
President Vučić opened the exhibition emphasizing the importance of friendship between Serbia and Russia and the investment of Russian soldiers in the liberation of Belgrade during the Second World War. He stressed that this exhibition is part of the policy that Serbia is leading and represents only a small part of the path in the fight for freedom.
"This exhibition is part of the policy we lead, which does not agree to the revision of history. The exhibition presents only a small part of that path to freedom. The symbol is precisely the struggle for the liberation of Belgrade. In that struggle, all those fighters who gave their lives for the liberation of the capital will always have their place," said Vučić.
He emphasized the importance of preserving the hard-won freedom and said that the truth will survive, which is why the exhibition was organized. "We are marking a day of great importance for Europe, Serbia and Russia," the president added.
Belgrade was liberated from the Nazi occupation on October 20, 1944, thanks to the joint efforts of the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia and the Red Army. During the liberation battles, the enemy left numerous mines, but the soldiers of the Red Army managed to demine the key facilities in the city. As a symbol of that freedom, the inscription "ПРОВЕРЕНО МИН НЕТ" (CHECK PASSED - NO MINES) remained on many buildings in Belgrade.
The opening ceremony of the exhibition was attended by ministers in the Government of Serbia, as well as other guests. This significant event was also marked by the address of the Acting Director of the Post of Serbia, Zoran Anđelković, who told President Vučić the following:
”Belgrade was never conquered. This is an envelope with a stamp that shows the symbols of that struggle and represents not only the memory of the heroic efforts of our ancestors, but also the connection between Belgrade and its liberators. Celebrating this jubilee reminds us of the importance of the freedom and peace we enjoy today," Anđelković said.
At the exhibition "Military diplomacy: on the road to freedom", visitors have the opportunity to see framed postage stamps, the motifs of which are inspired by significant historical moments of the liberation of Belgrade. The inspiration for the design of the stamp are the motifs on the vignettes: the relief at the entrance to the Memorial Cemetery of the Liberators of Belgrade, an artwork by Radeta Stanković, which symbolizes our common struggle and the memory of fallen soldiers. Inscription in Russian "ПРОВЕРЕНО МИН НЕТ" (translation: CHECK PASSED - NO MINES) from the period of the liberation of Belgrade in 1944, one of which is preserved on the corner of Miloš Veliki and Kralja Milan streets.
The Post of Serbia published the stamp with the professional cooperation of the Russian House in Belgrade, and Jakša Vlahović, an academic graphic artist, was in charge of the artistic realization of the issue.
This event attracted a lot of public attention, which will contribute to preserving the memory of important moments from our history. During the Second World War, Belgrade was liberated on October 20, after three years and seven months of German occupation. The forces of the Soviet army with the help of the forces of the People’s Liberation Army of Yugoslavia (NOVJ) liberated Belgrade after several days of heavy fighting and with numerous casualties.