Deputy speakers of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev and Inna Svyatenko are accompanying them during their time in the capital of the Russian Federation.
Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Inna Svyatenko welcomed the participants in the Memory Train cultural and educational project at Leningradsky Railway Station in Moscow.
Inna Svyatenko, a representative of the Moscow City Duma, noted that since 2022, the cultural and educational project has involved 600 high school students over the past three seasons. “The Memory Train project brings together winners of Olympiads and competitions related to the Great Patriotic War. It is highly important to provide young people with the opportunity to visit places of combat glory, gain insights into the history of Victory, and discover new stories about their relatives who fought in the Great Patriotic War. By touring various locations that have great significance for Russia and the Republic of Belarus, as well as military history museums, young people are able to forge their civic position, become patriots and respect the history of their country,” the Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council said.
Inna Svyatenko presented the young participants with a section of an artistic panel depicting Moscow. Throughout the journey, the participants will assemble this symbolic artistic panel featuring photographs of the cities they have visited.
Nikolai Antonov, Head of the Directorate for State Policy in Upbringing and Additional Education at the Moscow City Department of Education and Science, welcomed project participants on behalf of Moscow and told them about the programme of their stay in the city.
Member of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Alexander Lukyanov told the young people that Vitebsk has hosted the Forum of Belarusian and Russian Regions. He said that when the President of Russia addressed the forum participants, he emphasised the significance of the Memory Train project and the importance of working with young people.
Ivan Novikov, member of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy and a representative of the Arkhangelsk Region’s Legislature, also took part in the event.
Deputy Federation Council Speaker Konstantin Kosachev joined project participants and took part in the flower-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin Wall in Alexander Garden.
The Deputy Federation Council Speaker noted that it was symbolic that the participants began their stay in Moscow by visiting the Eternal Flame on Red Square. “This is a sacred place for all those who know the history of the Great Patriotic War and understand the price of Victory achieved by our great nation,” the Deputy Speaker said. “It is very important that young people who undertake this emotionally and physically demanding journey become true patriots of their countries and learn about our shared historical past,” Konstantin Kosachev said.
While in the Russian capital, high school students from eight CIS countries participating in the project took a guided bus tour called Wartime Moscow. They also visited the Kremlin and admired cultural landmarks such as the famous Tsar Bell and Tsar Cannon.
The students also toured the VDNKh exhibition centre, including the Achievements of Russia pavilion and People’s Friendship Fountain.
The Memory Train project usually involves 200 school students aged 15 to 17 years who have won Olympiads and competitions related to the Great Patriotic War.