Kazakhstan celebrates Victory Day in World War II

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ASTANA. May 9. KAZINFORM This year, on May 9, Kazakhstan together with other post-Soviet countries for the 66th time will celebrate the Victory Day in the European segment of World War II. People of Kazakhstan went through the whole war which ended in the spring of 1945 in Berlin, after defending Leningrad, Stalingrad, and liberating Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Baltic nations, and the peoples of Europe.

During the war, around 500 Kazakhstanis have become Heroes of Soviet Union, more than 100 received the Order of Glory, and four have been awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union twice, including Talgat Begeldinov, Leonid Beda, Ivan Pavlov and Sergey Lugansky. Bauyrzhan Momyshuly, Aliya Moldagulova, Manshuk Mametova, Tolegen Toktarov, Nurken Abdirov and many other brave heroes of the war will be forever inscribed into the history and will always be remembered in Kazakhstan, the press service of the Kazakh MFA reports.

During the time of the World War II, Kazakhstan marked an increase in industrialisation and mineral extraction in support of the war effort. Besides being an overwhelmingly agricultural-based economy, Kazakhstan was one of the main arsenals for the front. In total, in 1941-45, almost 500 plants, ore mines, individual productions, and factories which produced machinery, weaponry, radio and other military technologies have been established in the country.

Furthermore, Kazakhstan experienced population inflows of millions evacuated and exiled from other parts of the Soviet Union during the 1930s and 1940s. Many of the deportation victims were interned in some of the largest Soviet labour camps , including ALZHIR camp outside Astana, which held wives of men considered to be the "enemies of the people".

Starting with the first days of May, in honour of the Victory all towns and villages of the country celebrate the great achievement and honour veterans of the Second World War. During these days, all regions of the country hold commemorative events dedicated to this date. The highest level officials, heads of organisations, institutions, enterprises, and every single citizen congratulate the War veterans, who, in their turn, share their personal memories of the hard years and express their opinions on current affairs of the state.

According to the Ministry of Labour of Kazakhstan, currently there are 8,308 participants and 3,628 disabled veterans live in the country, and about 2,500 persons equated with the Second World War veterans who have contributed to the victory. There are more than 16,000 parents, wives and husbands of servicemen and servicewomen killed during the War, and around 240,000 people who worked in the rear.

Today, in accordance with the procedures established by the law, special state allowances are paid monthly to different categories of citizens, regardless of other social payments. Furthermore, starting from January 2011 the average pension in the country increased by 30 percent, while the amounts of state social benefits and special government allowances increased by nine percent.

"One trillion tenge from the budget will be spent this year for the social security of the veterans of the World War II," Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Kazakhstan Serik Akhmetov said at a concert devoted to the Victory Day in Astana on May 6. "These figures will increase year after year given the economic growth opportunities. The President has repeatedly spoken of this and, as you know, his words are always consistent with the actions," Akhmetov added.

In addition, besides the celebration of the Victory Day on May 9, due to formation of the Armed Forces of the independent Kazakhstan on May 7, 1992, the nation celebrates this day as the Defenders of the Fatherland Day.

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