Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and citizens of Georgia and Ukraine with the 71st anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Kremlin press service said on Sunday.

Putin stressed that the Victory Day is a sacred celebration that will forever remain the symbol of heroism and unity of peoples that defended their lands in bloody battles and liberated the world from Nazism.

The Russian president that history should not be allowed to be rewritten and tragic mistakes of the past should not be repeated. “Our common duty is to carefully preserve the memory about those who died in the Great Patriotic War and to care about veterans in every possible way,” he noted.

The Russian leader expressed hope that friendship and brotherhood tested in the common struggle will continue to serve as a basis for further strengthening of inter-state relations, facilitate development of integrational processes on the Eurasian continent.

Putin conveyed sincerest gratitude to veterans and home front workers, wished them good health and longevity.