The Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) issued an address on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, celebrated on May 9, 2025. This was reported by the CIS Executive Committee.
The statement emphasizes the exceptional historical and moral significance of the Victory, which became a symbol of heroism, selflessness and unity of the peoples who fought against fascism. "Victory is our common heritage and sacred memory. We have deep respect for the feat of representatives of all peoples who fought shoulder to shoulder. This is a living memory that we pass on to new generations," the statement says.
The Council resolutely condemned any attempts to revise the results of the war and distort the historical truth, as well as actions aimed at belittling the decisive role of the peoples of the former Soviet Union in the defeat of Nazism. "The justification or glorification of Nazi criminals and their accomplices who collaborated with the Hitler regime and committed crimes against humanity is unacceptable," the representatives of the CIS countries noted.
Particular attention is paid to the need to counter the glorification of Nazi and other radical ideologies, the propaganda of racism, religious intolerance, xenophobia and any form of discrimination. It is emphasized that the verdict of the Nuremberg Tribunal remains a key international legal document, confirmed by resolutions of the UN General Assembly, and attempts to place responsibility for the outbreak of World War II on the Soviet Union are called immoral and historically unfounded.
"The facts of mass violence, expulsion and death of the civilian population of the USSR, committed by the Nazis and their accomplices, must be recognized as genocide of the Soviet peoples," the appeal notes.
Representatives of the CIS states expressed concern over the increasing incidence of vandalism against monuments to liberator soldiers. They called on the international community to respect historical memory and protect memorials and military burial sites.
The Council also recalled that on 4 March 2025, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 79/272 "Eightieth Anniversary of the End of World War II", co-sponsored by the CIS states. The document confirms the determination of the world community to resist attempts to rehabilitate Nazism and distort historical facts.
In conclusion, the address emphasizes the desire to preserve peace, international security and build a just world based on the lessons of the past. As noted in the Address of the CIS Heads of State to the Peoples of the Commonwealth and the World Community, "only unity, respect for historical truth and a common desire for peace can become the basis for a stable future."