BISHKEK, May 8 (Xinhua) -- A ceremonial military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) was held on Thursday in Ala-Too Square in the center of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
President Sadyr Japarov, who also serves as commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces, attended the event alongside government officials, veterans, servicemen, representatives from law enforcement and the diplomatic corps, as well as members of the public, youth groups, and visitors to the capital.
In a speech, Japarov emphasized the historical importance of the victory and paid tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of past generations.
"In order for future generations to never forget the invaluable contribution of our fathers and the consequences of a devastating war that claimed tens of millions of innocent lives, we must teach young people to value peace and tranquility, and to live with an awareness of their true worth," he said, according to his press service.
The Defense Ministry described the parade as the largest in the history of independent Kyrgyzstan, both in terms of personnel and the scale and sophistication of the military hardware involved.
Approximately 3,000 servicemen and over 120 units of military and special equipment took part, including heavy armored vehicles, artillery, air defense systems, and aircraft.
The parade's technical display featured modern equipment procured with national budget funds, while the air segment included aircraft from the armed forces of both Kyrgyzstan and Russia, stationed in the city of Kant. ■