On the participation of the state archives of the Gomel region in the international roundtable discussion «Historical Memory of the Great Patriotic War as a Spiritual and Moral Foundation for the Patriotic Education of Youth», dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the start of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945

On June 19, 2026, an international roundtable discussion «Historical Memory of the Great Patriotic War as a Spiritual and Moral Foundation for the Patriotic Education of Youth» was held via videoconference. The roundtable was timed to coincide with the 85th anniversary of the start of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.

Participants from the Belarusian side included: A.A.Gurzhiy, First Deputy Head of the Main Justice Department of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee; Yu.V.Shestopalov, Director of the State Archives of the Gomel Region; M.V.Vashchenko, Senior Researcher at the State Archives of the Gomel Region; Yu.V.Lebedev, Chairman of the Belarusian Union of Officers of the Novobelitsky District of Gomel; and archivists of the regional archive.

Also participating in the roundtable via videoconference were E.V.Domashkevich, Head of the Information and Document Use Department of the Zonal State Archives in Mozyr; S.V.Chikileva, Leading Archivist of the Information and Document Use Department of the Zonal State Archives in Zhlobin; and S.A.Zharnosenko, 1st Qualification Category Archivist of the Information and Document Use Department of the Zonal State Archives in Rechitsa.

Participants from the Russian side included: representatives of the Ministry of Culture, National Policy, and Archival Affairs of the Republic of Mordovia; The roundtable participants included the Saransk branch of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Representative Office in Nizhny Novgorod; the Mordovian Republican Public Organization of Veterans of War, Labor, the Armed Forces, and Law Enforcement Agencies; scientists from the Research Institute of Humanities under the Government of the Republic of Mordovia; representatives of the Public Council for Archival Affairs of the Republic of Mordovia, local historians, and archivists.

Welcoming remarks were made by Deputy Minister of Culture, National Policy, and Archival Affairs of the Republic of Mordovia N.V.Bychkov; Director of the State Archives of the Gomel Region Yu.V.Shestopalov; and First Deputy Head of the Main Justice Department of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee A.A.Gurzhiy.

The speeches expressed respect for the history that unites multinational Russia and Belarus. Preserving historical memory and passing on historical heritage to future generations is a duty to the heroes who gave their lives in the battles for the Great Victory. It requires understanding historical facts, learning lessons, and strengthening our shared responsibility for preserving peace. At the roundtable, archivists from Mordovia presented on the importance of online information resources in popularizing documents about the Great Patriotic War, the implementation of the «Courage» project, and the heroism of the heroes from Mordovia who defended the Brest Fortress.

Presentations by archivists from the regional and zonal archives of the Gomel region focused on educational and patriotic work with youth to preserve historical memory, the heroism of General Petrovsky in defending Zhlobin, and the events of the German occupation regime in Rechitsa and Mozyr.

A collection of materials from the roundtable will be prepared in electronic format. The collection will also include contributions from archivists who participated in the event remotely.

1. Director of the Regional Archives Yu.V.Shestopalov delivers a welcoming address.

2. Address by A.A.Gurzhiy, First Deputy Head of the Main Justice Department of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee.

3. M.V.Vashchenko delivers a report on patriotic work with youth.

4-5. Roundtable participants via videoconference.

6-8. Collections of documents on the Great Patriotic War.