Kazakh Soldiers Honored in Serbia on the Occasion of the 80th Anniversary of the Great Victory

Belgrade, May 9, 2025 – On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, a solemn wreath-laying ceremony was held at the “Liberators of Belgrade” Memorial Complex in the Serbian capital. The Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Serbia, Madi Atamkulov, took part in the event and honored the memory of Kazakh soldiers with a moment of silence.

The ceremony took place at a significant site commemorating soldiers of the Soviet Army and the Yugoslav Partisan Army who fought for the liberation of Belgrade. The event featured a ceremonial guard of honor and the national anthem of Kazakhstan. It was attended by high-ranking officials of the Serbian Parliament and Government, the Belgrade City Administration, the diplomatic corps, public figures, and members of the media.

The “Liberators of Belgrade” monument, unveiled in 1954, became the first memorial complex in the city following the end of World War II. It is the final resting place for 818 Soviet soldiers and 1,395 fighters of the Yugoslav National Liberation Army who fell in the battles for Belgrade.

On the same day, Kazakh diplomats participated in official wreath-laying ceremonies at monuments dedicated to Soviet liberators in the Serbian cities of Jagodina, Subotica, and Zrenjanin, all held in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory.

Kazakhstan’s contribution to the liberation of Yugoslavia is underscored by the involvement of the 73rd Guards Rifle Division, which was formed on Kazakh soil and took part in the battles for Belgrade. To date, the names of approximately 200 Kazakh soldiers who were killed or went missing in action in Yugoslavia during World War II have been identified.

The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Serbia continues to carry out comprehensive military-memorial work, including efforts to locate and preserve the burial sites of Kazakh soldiers. Archival research to uncover and honor the stories of these heroes remains ongoing.

The "Liberators of Belgrade" monument was unveiled in 1954 and became the first memorial complex in the capital dedicated to the victors over fascism. The mass grave holds the remains of 818 Soviet soldiers and 1,395 Yugoslav fighters who gave their lives for the freedom and independence of the country.