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    Kazakh President extended award for his father’s WW II heroics by Putin

    Synopsis

    Vladimir Putin presented Kassym-Jomart Tokayev with an award certificate honoring his father's war service. The event occurred during Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. Tokayev congratulated Putin and the Russian people on the holiday. Putin emphasized the shared significance of Victory Day for former Soviet nations. Leaders from various countries attended the Moscow celebrations, despite calls for boycotts.

    AP PHOTOS: Russia’s Victory Day parade beginsAP
    Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures as he walks in Red square after the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 9, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during the World War II.
    Russian President Vladimir Putin presented his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev with an award certificate containing his father's - Sergeant Kemel Tokayev - honour from the state archives, in Moscow on Friday.

    "I am very touched by this initiative. Today is a very important day. I would like to congratulate you, as the universally recognised leader of Russia, and all the people of Russia on this great holiday. As you have correctly pointed out today, this is a common holiday," Tokayev said.

    In turn, Putin congratulated Tokayev on the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War (WW2) and stressed that Victory Day was a holiday of "every family of the peoples of the former Soviet Union".

    “I am pleased to present you with an important historical document - an award certificate confirming that your father Kemel Tokayev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union,” Putin said as he presented the document last week.

    After the war, Kemel Tokayev became a widely known writer in the literary world, writing works in the detective and adventure genres. His works reflected the rich life experience he gained during the war, and he became known among the people as a beloved author of many readers.

    Russia celebrates Victory Day on May 9, while Moscow hosted its iconic Victory Parade on Friday. In addition to the Russian military, troops from 13 countries, including China, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Egypt, Mongolia, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, marched through Red Square.

    Despite numerous calls from Kiev and Western allies to cancel trips to Moscow, around 30 leaders from the CIS, Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia, including Xi, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, visited Moscow.
    The Economic Times

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