An event entitled 'The Georgiev Ribbon' begins in Krasnodar

An event entitled 'The Georgiev Ribbon' began at 2pm on Sunday in the capital of the Krasnodar region. Volunteers are distributing the first set of awards to anyone who wants them on Zhukov Square in the city centre, RIA Novosti reports with reference to the assistant to the regional head of the youth wing of 'United Russia', Dmitri Kovalenko.
The organisors of the event are continuing the initiative, begun in 2007, to collect donations for a war veterans' hospital. Last year, the regions inhabitants donated around 9 million rubles, which the events organisers spent on an ultrasound, x-ray and other equipment for the veterans.
According to the city's mayor, 40 thousand residents are wearing the black and orange symbols of Victory, which can be acquired in various retail outlets, in addition to Zhukov Square.

More than 300 thousand ribbons are planned to be distributed, with money also being directed to the region's war veterans' hospital. More than 45 million ribbons have been distributed worldwide since 2005, when RIA Novosti and the 'Student Society' united different generations and social groups in the celebration. Greece, Ukraine, Estonia, France, Italy, the USA, China and Afghanistan are among the countries actively participating in the celebration.

The ribbon is a replica of the Order of George, established in Russia in 1769. The order was reintroduced during the Second World War as the 'Ribbon of the Guard'.