The memorial, which bears the inscription “To the Slovenian victims from a grateful homeland”, stands in Moscow’s Victory Park.

At the unveiling, the prime minister stressed the importance of an event in which the memory of Slovenes who fell on Russian soil could be honoured in the presence of senior officials from both countries and friends of Slovenia.

“Today, in this wonderful open-air museum, where the stories of people and nations united in pain are told through high art and architecture, we will unveil a memorial to the Slovenes who fell in the first and second world wars. This sign of reconciliation between generations and European nations is a step further towards building mutual trust.”

He added that joint action was required for peaceful development and prosperity, which is why he was convinced that good relations between Slovenia and Russia were important in the wider European and international context as well. “I am sure that Slovenia and Russia will continue to seek out new opportunities to strengthen and build on friendly relations between the two countries through mutual respect and to their benefit and that of their people.”

The project to erect the memorial was carried out under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, in collaboration with the City of Moscow and the Russian authorities. The memorial was designed by architects Rok Klanjšček and Grega Tramte.

Minister Klampfer also expressed her satisfaction at the unveiling of the first memorial dedicated to fallen Slovenian soldiers and other Slovenian victims of war on Russian territory. “In both world wars, many Slovenes, some estimates even put the number at around 10,000, lost their lives in combat or as long-term prisoners of war on Russian soil. It is therefore important and right that we honour the fallen Slovenian soldiers and other Slovenian victims of war on Russian soil. To this end, Slovenia, in cooperation with the City of Moscow and the Russian authorities, created this project to erect a memorial to Slovenian victims in the Russian Federation as the main memorial to Slovenian victims. The construction and erection of the memorial, which was overseen by our ministry, is a tribute to the victims and a reminder to all of us. It is symbolically based on Triglav, the symbol of Slovenia, which also appears in all our other official symbols,” said the minister.