Belarusian embassy marks Victory Day with tribute to Azerbaijani WWII veterans PHOTO

The Embassy of Belarus in Azerbaijan has held a series of events to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

The embassy's official social media page reported that Ambassador of Belarus to Azerbaijan Dmitry Pinevich, along with the ambassadors of other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member countries, laid a wreath at the Memorial Complex of Military Glory in Baku, per Caliber.Az.

The tribute honoured those who fought and died in the Second World War, as part of commemorations marking this significant historical milestone.

As part of the commemorative program, Ambassador Pinevich also visited the Organisation of Veterans of War, Labour and Armed Forces of Azerbaijan. On behalf of Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenko, he presented gifts to Azerbaijani veterans who took part in the liberation of Belarus during the war.

Посол🇧🇾 Дмитрий Пиневич возложил вместе с послами стран СНГ венок на Мемориальном комплексе воинской славы в Баку в связи с 80-летием общей Победы #80BY pic.twitter.com/R9OfYbHhjr

— Belarus Embassy in Baku (@bel_embassy_az) May 8, 2025

Victory Day, observed annually on May 9, commemorates the capitulation of Nazi Germany in 1945 and the end of the war in Europe. Azerbaijan, then a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, made a major contribution to the Allied victory. More than 600,000 Azerbaijanis were mobilised into the Red Army, with many never returning home. Azerbaijani soldiers fought on multiple key fronts, including in the decisive Battle of Stalingrad and the liberation of territories across Eastern Europe.

In addition to its military role, Azerbaijan's strategic significance during the war was marked by its vast oil reserves. At the time, the oil fields of Baku provided approximately 75 to 80 per cent of the Soviet Union’s fuel supply, a resource that proved essential for the operation of Soviet tanks, aircraft, and naval fleets. Nazi Germany’s failure to capture Baku during the 1942 Caucasus campaign was a pivotal moment in the war.

The Azerbaijani population also played a critical role in supporting the war effort through increased industrial output, the relocation of factories from occupied Soviet regions, and care for wounded soldiers, highlighting the republic’s vital contribution to the Soviet and Allied war effort.

By Tamilla Hasanova