The leaders of Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have gathered for a CIS summit in Moscow to round up preparations for the 70th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, according to a plan adopted on February 14, 2014. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that memories about the Great Patriotic War should consolidate countries, especially for the 300 million people who had not returned from the war. He reminded about the war in Ukraine.
Lukashenko spoke out against heroization of Nazism and reconsideration of the war's outcomes. In his words, the war was won by all Soviet people. The Belarusian leader clarified that the Council of the Heads of CIS Countries will be held in Astana on October 9, the CSTO Collective Security Council on October 8. According to Lukashenko, Belarus had proposed to hold the Council of the Heads of CIS Countries on October 2, Kazakhstan on October 9, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on October 19. Belarus considered gathering in Dushanbe on September 15 to later meet in Astana.
Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev spoke out against revision of WWII events and historical facts. He reminded about a CIS summit planned in Astana on October 9, reiterating the dates proposed by other countries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that some leaders would not be able to attend the upcoming meeting due to busy schedules.
