Nelly Kobzon: "Joseph Kobzon always believed that Russians and Ukrainians will reach common groud"

On March 3 the State Kremlin Palace will host 12th annual award ceremony of the All-Russian public award "Shield and Rose", which was established in 2008 and is awarded to the best in employees of law enforcement bodies and special services of Russia. The prize is awarded in eight categories, including several new ones: "Open Heart", "For Combating Illicit Trafficking of Industrial Products", "Honoring Women Participants of the Great Patriotic War", and "I Love You Russia", dedicated to the People's Artist of the USSR, Joseph Kobzon. Widow of the singer, politician and public figure, music teacher Nelly Kobzon told Vestnik Kavkaza about the prize and love of Joseph Kobzon for the Soviet Union.

- This year, one of the Shield and Rose Award nominations is dedicated to Joseph Kobzon...

- Yes, for ten years he was the permanent co-chair of the Shield and Rose Prize, carried out huge work, participated in all events. He was dedicated to his homeland and always said: "You must first and foremost think about your homeland, and then about yourself." He was a very uncompromising person, and no matter what he did, he always did it with heart, always tried to do his best. He did a lot for the Fund, for the organizing committee. He always performed free of charge at all concerts.

- What connected Joseph Kobzon with this theme?

- The creative activity of Joseph Davydovich began with the Caucasus. He served in the village of Manglisi, not far from Tbilisi, and from there he was invited to the military ensemble. There he proved himself, became a singer. After serving in the army he came to Moscow, entered the Institute. Gnesins. Thus began his creative life.

He lived during the Soviet Union and loved all its republics - he loved to travel to Tbilisi, Yerevan, Baku, and Tashkent. In Tashkent, for many years, on May 9, he gathered veterans in the central square and arranged a dinner with pilaf. I made such a holiday.

He was the first artist to come to Spitak with a concert 3-4 days after the earthquake.

When Joseph Davydovich had a farewell tour, he traveled with a large team to almost all the republics - he was in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Armenia. He loved the Soviet Union very much.

It is impossible to list all his exploits. But he was a wonderful person, a patriot, a great singer of his people, his land. Of course, he was very fond of Ukraine. I was very worried that I could not go to the grave to my father, to my relatives, relatives and loved ones. But he always believed that everything would be different anyway, the world would recover and the peoples would understand each other. He always stood for it.