On February 5, 2026, a significant event took place in Moscow — the presentation of a series of documentary collections titled "Republics – to the Front 1941–1945". The event was organized with the support of the Apparatus of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, the Russian Historical Society, and RGGU, and the Secretary General of the CSTO, Taalatbek Masadykov, participated in it.
Speaking at the event, Masadykov emphasized the importance of archival documents 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 and friends!
First of all, I would like to thank the organizers for the opportunity to participate in the presentation of the collections 'Republics – to the Front 1941-1945'. This work symbolizes that our Great Victory was a shared one. It was achieved through the joint efforts on the front lines and in the rear, in factories and fields — by the peoples of all the republics of our great country. Our goal was the defeat of Nazi Germany and its allies.
Preserving the historical memory of the war is our moral duty. To remember the price at which Victory was achieved and to defend the truth from distortions means to honor the heroism of our ancestors. It is important to rely on documents and archival evidence, such as those presented in these collections. Attempts to rewrite history and downplay the contributions of our peoples to the victory over Nazism are a conscious policy aimed at undermining the values for which our ancestors fought. We, as heirs of the Victors, cannot allow this.
The issues of protecting the historical memory of the Great Patriotic War hold an important place in the work of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. In preparation for the 80th anniversary of this event, we have done significant work.
The creation of the encyclopedia 'The Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945', initiated by 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, was an important step in this work. This scientific work received high praise at the session of the Collective Security Council in Bishkek.
In the year of the anniversary of the Great Victory, our Organization held an International Conference on the theme: 'The Contribution of the Peoples of the CSTO Member States to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War', gathering politicians, experts, and historians, which confirmed that the common memory of the feat is 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 in connection with the 80th anniversary of Victory, which rejects attempts to revise history and glorify Nazism, emphasizing that the actions of the Nazis were genocide against the peoples of the Soviet Union. A joint statement by the Secretaries General of the CSTO, CIS, and SCO also addresses this issue.
Therefore, today’s presentation is particularly significant for us. In the collections 'Republics – to the Front', I see an important continuation of the systematic work that our countries are doing to immortalize the memory of the Great Victory. These documents confirm the words that have been repeatedly voiced by our leaders.
Special thanks to the compilers for their work in collecting and systematizing archival evidence.
Friends!
The collections 'Republics – to the Front' are an important contribution to ensuring that our descendants 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 defend the truth, the sacrifices made for Victory will not be in vain. The strength of our union lies in our shared history, memory, and responsibility for the future.
Thank you for your attention!”
