Putin, Nazarbayev Lay Flowers on Tomb of Unknown Soldier in Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev laid flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow on Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The ceremony took place at the Alexander Gardens (Aleksandrovsky Sad) near the Kremlin walls. After a minute of silence the anthems of the two countries were played.  

Russian soldiers are worthy successors to the generation of World War II heroes who fought against Nazi Germany:

"Russian servicemen have proven that they are worthy successors to the Great Patriotic War heroes who are defending the country's interests with honor," Putin said during the May 9 Victory Day celebrations in Moscow.

"I'm sure the veterans today are proud of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren who are not letting them down and will always remember the great victory, the feat of the glorious generation of victors," the president said, congratulating the nation on the holiday. 

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near Kremlin Wall

© Sputnik / Sergei Guneyev

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The ceremony was also attended by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Kremlin Chief of Staff Sergei Ivanov, President of the Constitutional Court Valery Zorkin, and parliamentary speakers Valentina Matvienko and Sergei Naryshkin, as well as Kazakh ministers.

On May 9, parades to honor the 71st anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II are held across Russia. The parade in Moscow involves about 10,000 servicemen, 135 units of military equipment and 71 aircraft.