On May 13, 2025 the Rector of the Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn (KNU), Professor Dogdurbek Chontoev held a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Sergei Molunov.
During the conversation, the parties discussed current issues of strengthening partnerships and expanding cooperation in the field of education. The Rector of KNU expressed gratitude to Mr. Ambassador for the visit and noted:
Future generations should remember the exploits of the Second World War. We must not forget the common history that connects Belarus and Kyrgyzstan. Once we were a single state and defended the Motherland together.
In turn, Mr. Sergei Molunov thanked him for the warm welcome and emphasized the importance of preserving historical memory:
The future is impossible without preserving the history of the past. The example of Toktogon Altybasarova is a feat worthy of humanity. Many people try to rewrite history, but we must remember every single person who died, including civilians.
After the meeting, documentaries about the victims of World War II in Belarus were shown. The Ambassador told the students and teaching staff of the Faculty of International Relations and Oriental Studies of the KNU about the country’s losses during the war.
At the end of the event, those present honored the memory of all those killed during World War II with a minute of silence.
REFERENCE:
During the Great Patriotic War, Belarus suffered colossal losses. If at the beginning of the war the population of the republic was about 9 million people, then by its end it had decreased to 6 million. Every third resident of the country died – among them were women, children and the elderly, many of whom were burned alive.
During the war, more than 3,000 villages and towns were completely destroyed on the territory of Belarus. These tragic events will forever remain in the memory of people as a symbol of innocent victims and an unbending spirit.
Estimates of the number of deaths vary significantly in different studies. However, it is generally accepted that more than 55 million people died during World War II. Almost half of all those killed were civilians. More than 5.5 million were killed in the fascist death camps of Majdanek and Auschwit. During the war, the Kirghiz SSR sent every fourth resident of the country to the front. In total, more than 363 thousand Kirghiz citizens were called up. About 100 thousand people died. More than 150 thousand Kirghiz citizens were awarded orders and medals.
