Honoring Kyrgyzstan’s Heroes of the Great Patriotic War in Minsk
Memorial Rally Held in Minsk to Honor Kyrgyz Soldiers on 80th Anniversary of Victory in World War II
Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic – 3 May 2025
A poignant memorial rally took place in Minsk, Belarus, at the monument dedicated to Hero of the Soviet Union Zhumash Asanaliev, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. This event honored the courageous Kyrgyzstani soldiers who fought valiantly for the liberation of Belarus during the war, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan.
The rally was organized by the Embassy of Kyrgyzstan in collaboration with the administration of the Oktabrsky district in Minsk. Attendees included representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, various diplomatic missions from CIS member states, officials from the Executive Committee of the CIS and EAEU Court, as well as Kyrgyz citizens residing in Minsk and members of public organizations.
Ambassador Erbol Sultanbaev emphasized the significant contributions of Kyrgyzstan’s soldiers during their battle against Nazi forces and expressed gratitude toward the Belarusian people for preserving the memory of the war and the shared victory.
The ceremony concluded with attendees laying flowers at the monument of Zhumash Asanaliev, a revered figure in Kyrgyzstan’s military history. Asanaliev served as a machine gunner in the 199th Guards Rifle Regiment. He was called to the Red Army in 1942 and participated in several critical battles, including the Battle of Kursk.
On June 24, 1944, Asanaliev was among the first to cross the Western Dvina River near Vitebsk. In a fierce engagement, he continued to fight valiantly despite his commander being gravely wounded and his crew being incapacitated by an explosion. Demonstrating exceptional bravery, Asanaliev engaged enemy forces at close range until running out of ammunition, ultimately sacrificing himself with a grenade to thwart further assaults from advancing Nazis.
This memorial event served as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by Kyrgyz soldiers and the enduring legacy of their courage during one of history’s darkest periods.
