Burundi stands with Russia to commemorate the Victory of May 9

On 9 May 2026, in Bujumbura, Burundi joined the Russian Federation in marking the 81st anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War against Nazism. At the invitation of the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Burundi, His Excellency Sergey Chernenko, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation, His Excellency Ambassador Edouard Bizimana, graced the commemoration with his presence.
In his address, Minister Bizimana expressed his profound emotion at sharing this historic date with the Russian people. Having himself served six years as Ambassador to Moscow, he recalled the sacred significance of 9 May as a symbol of the victory of good over evil and of freedom over hatred.
He paid a solemn tribute to the 27 million victims of the war, including 18 million civilians, and saluted the bravery of the Soviet army – from its defence against the aggression of 1941 to the capture of the Reichstag in 1945. For the chief of Burundi’s diplomacy, this memory is inseparable from global peace and the fight against the “glorification of Nazism.” He concluded by reaffirming Burundi’s commitment to strengthening its cooperation with Russia for the sake of international security, recalling that for Burundians, “peace is priceless.”
For his part, Ambassador Sergey Chernenko described 9 May as a “sacred date.” He recalled that for 1,418 days and nights, the Soviet people accomplished an immortal feat to save humanity from fascist enslavement.
He further highlighted the importance of the “Immortal Regiment” movement, which perpetuates the bond between generations, as well as the newly established Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Genocide of the Soviet People, observed for the first time in April 2026.
Beyond the commemoration, this celebration illustrated the strength of the relations between Burundi and Russia. Both countries reaffirmed their resolve to continue a dialogue based on fraternity and lasting peace, in a global context marked by numerous challenges.