President of the Republic of Abkhazia

On September 9, at a rally dedicated to the 75^th anniversary of the liberation of the village of Pskhu from the fascist aggressors, Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Abkhazia Daur Arshba read out a speech by President of the Republic of Abkhazia Raul Khadjimba.

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Dear residents of the village of Pskhu! Dear citizens of Abkhazia! Dear friends!

Today, we celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the liberation of Pskhu from the fascist aggressors.

This even started the process of the defeat of fascist forces in Abkhazia during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.

In August 1942, the fascist troops invaded Abkhazia. Klukhor, Marukh and Sanchar passes were occupied, and on August 27 – the high mountain village of Pskhu. On September 1, 1942, the 46^th army of the Transcaucasian Front went on the offensive. The first battle with the German invaders in the village of Pskhu was fought by the soldiers of the Gudauta battalion. On September 9, after fierce fighting, the strategically important village of Pskhu was completely liberated. The Germans retreated to the Sanchar Pass and took up defensive positions. Only by the end of 1942, all passes were reclaimed, and the forces of the Soviet Army were sent to liberate North Caucasus.

Thousands of warriors-liberators lost their lives on the passes of the Caucasus Mountains. For the eighth decade, we honour the memory of those who defended Abkhazia and our common homeland the Soviet Union from the most terrible evil of the 20^th century. I am certain that the future generations of our citizens will remember this, thus strengthening friendship between Abkhazian and Russian people.

A month ago, the remains of 33 soldiers of the Soviet Army, discovered as a result of an Abkhazian-Russian search expedition “Sanchara. High-mountain front-2017”, were buried. I would like to thank once again the organisers of this expedition for their work which is important not only to show that we remember but also for the education of civil and patriotic feelings among our youth.

Every fallen soldier and officer should be buried. This is why the work to discover and bury the remains of the Soviet warriors-liberators should be continued. This is our duty before those who shoulder to shoulder fought for the future of our common Homeland, for the lives of children, for their native land.

I wish everyone peace, prosperity and happiness!