»Eternal flame« lightning ceremony at the monument to the Russian and soviet soldiers

On 1 September 2019, at the monument to Russian and Soviet soldiers who died on Slovenian soil in World War I and World War II, inaugurated in 2016 by the Presidents of Russia and Slovenia, Vladimir Putin and Mr. Borut Pahor, an »eternal flame« lighting ceremony was taking place.

At this event, the Slovenian delegation was represented by the President of the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia Mr. Alojz Kovšca, Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities Ksenija Klampfer, Minister of Culture Mag. Zoran Poznič, Mayor of the City of Ljubljana Zoran Janković, parliamentarians, representatives of ministries and departments, mayors of municipalities and urban municipalities of Slovenia, leadership and members of veterans’ organizations, Slovenia-Russia associations, and Russian countrymen’s associations.

The Russian delegation was led by the Vice-President of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Mr. Piotr Tolstoy. Members of the Russian delegation included representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Culture, Defence (responsible for memorial projects), the Russian Historical Society, the Russian Military-Historical Society, the Russian Federation of Veterans, and the Friendship and Cultural Relations Association with Slovenia. The Ambassador of Russia in Slovenia, Dr. Doku Zavgajev, has also been present.

The ceremony began with anthems of the Republic of Slovenia and the Russian Federation, followed by an address by the Mayor of the City of Ljubljana, Zoran Janković. After the mayor’s speech was over, the Russian delegation’s leader lit the eternal flame, which was followed by a minute of silence.

The ceremony continued with the address of the Head of the Russian Delegation – Vice-President of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Mr. Tolstoy, followed by an address by the Head of the Slovenian Delegation of the President of the National Council of Slovenia, Alojz Kovšca, an address by a Slovenian veteran, and an address by the Ambassador of Russia to
Slovenia, Dr. Doku Zavgajev.

After the speeches were completed, delegations laid wreaths at the monument and other participants laid flowers.

More photos from the ceremony can be viewed in this album.