On April 22, 2019, Oleg Bartsits, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia participated in an event commemorating the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Genocide of the Soviet People committed by the Nazis and their accomplices during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 organized by the Representative Office of the World Youth Festival in the Republic of Abkhazia.

The event was attended by Maxim Litvinov, Chargé d'Affaires of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Abkhazia; Irakli Tuzhba, Acting Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia; David Bzhania, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Abkhazia and State Secretary; and Vadim Bannikov, Acting Head of the Rossotrudnichestvo Representative Office in the Republic of Abkhazia.

The event was opened by Maxim Litvinov, Chargé d'Affaires of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Abkhazia. 

In his welcoming speech, Foreign Minister Oleg Bartsits emphasized that establishing a Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Genocide of the Soviet People is an extremely important initiative, especially given deliberate and visible attempts to rewrite history, which is unacceptable.

Oleg Bartsits noted that the dangerous challenges that our grandfathers and great- grandfathers faced together in the recent past must be addressed, and these crimes must not be forgotten.

"This is especially relevant at a time when attempts are being made to diminish the role of the victorious people. The Soviet people are rightfully victorious. We stand on the eve of the next anniversary of the Great Victory of May 9, when virtually all the peoples of the Soviet Union stood united in defending of their right to a future, to their history, and to their identity. The people of small Abkhazia made a very significant contribution to achieving this shared Victory," the Minister said.

Oleg Bartsits emphasized the importance of preserving historical memory and a shared past. "Today, Abkhazia and Russia are strategic allies and partners. We will continue to protect our historical memory and prevent the distortion of the true facts of history. This is crucial," he noted.

The event included the opening of the exhibition "No Statute of Limitations. The Genocide of the Soviet People," prepared by the National Center for Historical Memory under the President of the Russian Federation, and a screening of the documentary "No Statute of Limitations. In the Name of Humanity." The annual "St. George's Ribbon" campaign also launched today and will run until May 9.