Russia Commemorates 80th Anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation with Ceremony and “March of Life” in Kaliningrad

Russia marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a special ceremony at the World War II memorial complex, in the Jewish Museum, located in the Marina Roshcha neighborhood in central Moscow. The event, attended by ambassadors and dignitaries, featured a speech by Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar, who shared his personal family story of survival. Rabbi Lazar emphasized the importance of Holocaust remembrance, urging the world to continue the fight against neo-Nazi ideologies to prevent future atrocities.

Russian President Putin sent a special letter with his representatives recognizing the Red Army’s role in liberating Auschwitz and condemning the crimes of the Nazis. “I expect that the Russian Jewish community, the organizers of the traditional commemorative events to mark the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, will continue their multilateral activities aimed at promoting the values of humanism, tolerance and peace,” Putin wrote.

After reciting “Kel Malei Rachamim” by the Chief Rabbi, six public figures were honored with lighting six memorial candles, in memory of the Six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust. The first candle was lit by the famous Russian cultural figure Kalman Ginsek, who was sent to a ghetto in Latvia with his parents a week after his birth. The additional candles were lit by five ambassadors from countries: USA, England, Germany, Poland and Israel.

In Kaliningrad, a “March of Life” took place on Sunday, where local Jews commemorated those who were marched to their deaths in the final days of World War II.