OREANDA-NEWS. December 14, 2012. The Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War hosted the annual Victors’ Ball, dedicated to the 67th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War and the 71st anniversary of the Battle of Moscow, timed to the Day of Military Glory of Russia. The organizers of the event were United Metallurgical Company (OMK), the Maris Liepa Charitable Foundation and the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 at Poklonnaya Hill.

Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Sergey Naryshkin and Chairman of the Board of Directors of OMK Anatoly Sedykh attended the event as guests of honor.

"As years go by, the events of those days pass further into history, but we must keep them in the memory of generations, we must preserve the memory and history of that terrible war. In recent years, we have often faced attempts to revise history, to whitewash the aggressors and their accomplices for the sake of cynical political interests. However, we have a growing awareness of the greatness of the feat accomplished by our people, the feat that became a symbol of indomitable courage and fortitude, perseverance and rectitude," said Sergey Naryshkin.

"This is the seventh time that the Museum of the Great Patriotic War has held the Victors’ Ball. Every year in early December, we invite veterans to the Museum at Poklonnaya Hill. This is our tribute to the older generation, the generation of heroes. We are always very excited to prepare for this event and do everything we can to give veterans a grand and outstanding celebration. We owe this victory and all the efforts that restored the country as a great power to our veterans," said Anatoly Sedykh.

This year, more than 110 veterans attended the Victors’ Ball for the third time from all the former Soviet republics, which are now independent countries: Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, Belarus, Tajikistan, Moldova, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan.

Participants in the 1941 and 1945 Red Square parades, Heroes of the Soviet Union and Heroes of Socialist Labor, Full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory and Labor Glory, World War II veterans, veterans of the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies, generals and officers of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and participants in the 1941 Moscow Victory Parade gathered in Commander Hall of the Museum of the Great Patriotic War on December 2.

A gala concert was held for the participants in the ball and attended by Russian artists Lev Leshchenko, Tamara Gverdtseteli, Dmitry Pevtsov, Andris Liepa, Alexander Mikhailov