In the framework of implementation of the state policy of the Russian Federation in relation to compatriots abroad by St. Petersburg Government, St. Petersburg delegation visited Israel on 26-27 January 2014.
In the framework of implementation of the state policy of the Russian Federation in relation to compatriots abroad by St. Petersburg Government, St. Petersburg delegation visited Israel on 26-27 January 2014. The delegation was led by Mikhail Brodsky, Member of St. Petersburg Government, and Representative of the Governor of St. Petersburg in the Legislative Assembly.
They met residents and defenders of Besieged Leningrad in the cities of Tel Aviv, Beersheba, Ashdod and Nazareth Illit, awarded them with 250 commemorative tokens “In honor of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Leningrad from Nazi siege” and conveyed greetings from the Governor of St.Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko.
Member of St.Petersburg Government Mikhail Brodsky said: “Our hearts are filled with immense gratitude to the veterans who saved our beautiful city, gave us happiness to live and work for its prosperity and greatness”.
The members of the Israeli union of Leningrad Siege survivors and Beersheba Organization of the veterans and Siege survivors were greeted in Tel Aviv and Beersheba by Natalia Yakimchuk, Head of Rossotrudnichestvo Representative Office in Israel; Mikhail Raif, the First Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Israel, Director of the Russian Cultural Center in Tel Aviv; Semion Shapiro, Chairman of the Israeli Association of Russian communities, Head of St. Petersburg Information and Business Centers in Haifa (Israel).
Mayor of Nazareth Illit Shimon Gafsou gave a reception in honor of the Siege veterans. The event was attended by the Consul-General of Russia in Haifa Aleksey Sentebov. Screening of documentary and exhibition of the photo report were organized to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Leningrad from Nazi siege.
The veterans and members of St.Petersburg delegation laid flowers to the only Israeli monument “In memory of the victims of 900-day Siege of Leningrad” on January 27th, 2014 in Ashdod. The monument was erected 10 years ago.
St.Petersburg delegation brought 1200 commemorative tokens in total, which will be handed out to the residents of Besieged Leningrad and its defenders by diplomatic missions of the Russian Federation in Israel.