The Russian Embassy in Lebanon, under the patronage and in the presence of Russian Ambassador Alexander Rudakov, commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany with a cultural and musical festival held at the historic Temple of Bacchus in Baalbek Citadel.
The event featured performances in military attire symbolizing the historic victory and opened with the Lebanese and Russian national anthems. It was attended by Minister of Environment Tamara El Zein, MP Ghazi Zeaiter, former minister Abbas Hajj Hassan, Baalbek Mayor Mustafa Al-Shall, representatives of educational and cultural institutions, religious figures, and other official guests.
Ambassador Rudakov emphasized the symbolic importance of commemorating the Great Victory at such a historic location. He paid tribute to the approximately 27 million Soviet citizens who lost their lives during the war and stressed the importance of preserving historical truth and passing the memory of the victory to future generations.
Baalbek Mayor Mustafa Al-Shall highlighted the importance of the Russian victory over Nazism and spoke about the historic resilience of Baalbek and its archaeological heritage. He also praised the Russian community’s contribution to the city’s development and economy.
Mohamed Nassereldine, Director of the Lebanese-Russian Cooperation Office, highlighted the strong and lasting relations between Lebanon and Russia, particularly the close ties between Russia and the Baalbek region. He noted that many Russian scholarship recipients and university graduates come from Baalbek and called upon Lebanon’s senior officials to strengthen relations with Russia and give the Baalbek region the attention it deserves.
The event concluded with the presentation of honorary shields to Ambassador Alexander Rudakov and Mohamed Nassereldine.