On February 5, 2026, an important event took place in Moscow — the presentation of a series of documentary collections titled "Republics – to the Front 1941–1945". This event was organized by the Apparatus of the Security Council of Russia, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Russian Historical Society, and the Russian State University for the Humanities (RGGU). The Secretary General of the CSTO, Taalatbek Masadykov, also participated in this event.
In his speech, the head of the organization emphasized the importance of archival materials for preserving historical truth and strengthening ties between the peoples who fought together for victory in the Great Patriotic War.
Text of the speech:
"Dear colleagues, esteemed friends!
First of all, I want to express my gratitude to the organizers for the opportunity to participate in the presentation of the collections 'Republics – to the Front 1941-1945'. This work is a confirmation that our Great Victory was indeed a shared one. It was achieved through the efforts of all the peoples and republics of our great country, both at the front and in the rear.
Preserving the historical memory of the war is our moral duty. Understanding the price at which Victory was won and protecting the truth from distortions means respecting the feat of our ancestors. In our time, it is extremely important to rely on documents and facts, such as those collected in this compilation. Attempts to rewrite history and downplay the contributions of our peoples to the victory over Nazism represent a conscious policy aimed at undermining the values for which our ancestors fought and weakening the legal and moral foundations of peace established after 1945. We, as heirs of those who achieved victory, cannot and will not allow this.
The issues of protecting the historical memory of the Great Patriotic War and the truth about our common Victory hold special significance for the Collective Security Treaty Organization. In connection with the preparations for the 80th anniversary of this event, we have done significant work.
A key moment was the creation, at the initiative of the then Secretary General of the CSTO Imangali Nurgalievich Tasmagambetov, in collaboration with the Research Institute of Military History of the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, of the encyclopedia 'The Great Patriotic War 1941–1945'. This work received high praise from the leaders of our states at the session of the Collective Security Council in Bishkek.
In the anniversary year of Victory, our organization held an International Conference on the topic: 'The Contribution of the Peoples of CSTO Member States to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War'. This event brought together politicians, experts, historians, and descendants of heroes, confirming that the common memory of the feat serves as the foundation of our solidarity in countering modern challenges.
The result of this work was the adoption by the CSTO Collective Security Council of a Statement on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Victory, which rejects any attempts to rewrite history and glorify Nazism, and emphasizes that the actions of the Nazis constituted genocide against the peoples of the Soviet Union. The unanimous position of leading Eurasian associations on this issue was outlined in a Joint Statement by the Secretaries General of the CSTO, CIS, and SCO, timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the establishment of the UN.
Therefore, today's presentation holds special significance for us. In the collections 'Republics – to the Front', I see an important step forward in the systematic work that our countries are doing to immortalize the memory of the Great Victory. These documents are direct and factual confirmations of what the leaders of our states have repeatedly emphasized.
A special thanks to the team of compilers for their tremendous work in collecting and systematizing archival evidence.
Dear friends!
The collections 'Republics – to the Front' represent an important contribution to ensuring that our children and grandchildren know the truth. So that they remember that soldiers from Almaty and Minsk, Bishkek and Dushanbe, Yerevan and Moscow, Tashkent and Baku, Ashgabat and Tbilisi stood shoulder to shoulder.
As long as we preserve memory and uphold the truth, the sacrifices made on the altar of Victory will not be forgotten. The strength of our union lies in our common history, memory, and responsibility for the future.
Thank you for your attention!"
