We remember those who fought for the Homeland

In the Ozerische village of the Dorogobuzh district there was an opening ceremony of the memorial obelisk to the national militia of the People's Commissariat of the Foreign Affairs of the USSR who died during the Great Patriotic War. The monument was erected at the initiative of the veterans and employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. The Vice-Governor Lev Platonov participated in the ceremony.

The place for the installation of the obelisk was not chosen by chance. It was Ozerische that in the summer of 1941 housed the headquarters of the 6th division of the national militia, which was comprised of the volunteers from Moscow. It was here where they had their first battle with the German troops. Only 40 of the 183 militiamen of the Commissariat of the Foreign Affairs returned from the war.

The representatives of the executive authorities, veterans' organizations, clergy, students and local residents came to pay tribute and respect to those who gave their lives to defend our land from the Nazi invaders. The was also a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, headed by the Secretary General of the MFA of Russia Pavel Kuznetsov and the Chairman of the Veterans Council of the Ministry Vladimir Kazimirov, who came to attend the opening ceremony of the obelisk which immortalizes the feat of diplomats-volunteer who fought in 1293-th regiment of the 6th division of the national militia of Moscow.

The honorary right to open the obelisk was given to young diplomats and students of the Ozerische high school. The participants laid wreaths flowers and garlands at the foot of the obelisk. The participants observed a minute of silence in the memory of the diplomats.

On behalf of the Governor Alexey Ostrovskiy,  Lev Platonov greeted the participants of the rally and congratulated them on the anniversary of the liberation of Smolensk region from the Nazis. He also expressed confidence that the memory of the heroism of the people, whose power was not broken by any invaders, is an unshakable ground for the foundations of Russian state.

At the end of the rally, the rector of St. Ioan of Kronstadt Father Alexy consecrated the memorial obelisk.