The message reads, in part:
“This year we marked the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. The Soviet people rose to defend their Motherland as soon as the war began. Everyone fighting on the front or toiling deep behind the enemy lines spared no effort to bring closer the day of Victory over the enemy.
In 2020, the Year of Memory and Glory, a title of honour, City of Labour Glory, was established as a sign of our infinite respect for those who in the harsh conditions worked at evacuated defence plants, as well as factories and mines, on public transport and at hospitals, exceeding production targets and norms and providing the troops with everything they needed. Of course, it is very symbolic that this forum is taking place in Nizhny Novgorod, a city that was among the first to be awarded this title. Gorky, as this city on the Volga River was called during the war, was a major transport hub and an important military hardware and arms manufacturing centre.
I am confident that the citizens of the large and small cities carrying this lofty title, City of Labour Glory, will continue to treat with great respect the priceless historical, patriotic and creative legacy of the legendary generation of victors and make their important contribution to developing their native country through their success, achievements and aspirations for the future.”