PUTIN AND WORLD LEADERS LAY FLOWERS, DODIK AND CVIJANOVIĆ AMONG THEM

MOSCOW, MAY 9 /SRNA/ - Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with guests from numerous countries, including Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik and the Serbian member and Chairwoman of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović, laid flowers at the Eternal Flame and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Alexander Garden near the Kremlin.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić also laid red roses.

The flower-laying ceremony followed the conclusion of the military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II, which Russians refer to as the Great Patriotic War.

The delegation from Republika Srpska in Moscow, led by Dodik, also includes the Speaker of the Republika Srpska National Assembly, Nenad Stevandić, and the Minister of Scientific and Technological Development, Željko Budimir.

Victory Day is commemorated on May 9 in remembrance of that date in 1945, when the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany came into effect, marking the end of World War II in Europe. It was the most widespread and, in terms of human casualties, the most horrific conflict in human history, with around 60 million people killed.

The Serbian people were at the forefront of the fight against fascism in the territory of the former Yugoslavia and suffered the greatest losses, while the Soviet Union made the most significant contribution to the defeat of fascism.

The former Yugoslavia, which was on the side of the Allies both during that time and throughout history, endured the highest losses, estimated by the state commission of the former SFRY at 1.7 million people.