The mayor of the Greek city of Pylos, despite the negative reaction from the country’s leadership, made sure that on Thursday a wreath was laid on behalf of the Russian Federation on the central square at the marble monument and the Russian anthem was played.
This year marks the 195th anniversary of the Navarino naval battle of 1827, which took place in the bay of the city of Navarino (modern Pylos) on the Peloponnese peninsula between the Turkish-Egyptian fleet and the combined fleet of Russia, Great Britain and France, during the struggle of the Greeks for independence from the Ottoman Empire. Traditionally, military delegations from the Russian Federation, Great Britain and France sent to the celebrations, Russia usually also sent a ship. “Russia is the only country that really honors this holiday, it is practically the only one that has always sent a warship to these celebrations,” Kanakis emphasized. oil and the same amount of wine. Each time I gave such a gift as a token of our gratitude. Because the Russians really love this holiday, and we love them, ” reports TASS.
“I saw that there was a reaction regarding the laying of a wreath on behalf of Russia,” said Kanakas. them: “Colleagues, this is shameful and insulting. I don’t know if you invited them or not, but apparently the Russians weren’t invited. Since we are celebrating the liberation of our city, in which Russia supported us, the mayor of Pylos should lay a wreath from the Russians to the Russian anthem.”
The vice-mayor even threatened to leave the celebration if this did not happen. “As a result, the mayor of Pylos (Panagiotis Karvelas – TASS note) laid a wreath from Russia, the national anthem of Russia was played,” Kanakis continued. “Unfortunately, there was no Russian delegation at the celebrations – neither the ambassador of the Russian Federation, nor representatives of the military attache, but at least we laid a wreath from the mayor’s office, the Russian anthem sounded. We love the Russians, let this Greek government leave, because it sent way of relations with your country, but the Greeks love the Russians and will always love them.”
The reaction of the Russian Embassy in Athens
The Russian Embassy in Greece wrote on its Telegram page on Thursday that for the first time its representatives were not invited to the celebrations on the occasion of the next anniversary of the Battle of Navarino. “The question is often asked: what is the falsification of history? They showed us a good example today,” the diplomatic mission stressed.
annual celebrations
Every year in the city of Pylos in southwestern Greece, celebrations are held on the occasion of the next anniversary of the Battle of Navarino. They were usually attended by crews of Russian warships, heads of diplomatic missions and military attachés of Russia, France and Great Britain, representatives of the Greek Armed Forces, city authorities and the local community. According to tradition, on the Three Admirals Square, at the marble monument with bas-reliefs of Russian, English and French admirals, the flags of the three allied powers are raised, which are solemnly taken out of the city hall. After the laying of wreaths and service in the Pylos Cathedral, a parade takes place on the central square, and foreign delegations and guests go by boat to three islands, where Russian, English and French sailors who died in the battle are buried. There, wreaths are laid at the monuments to the heroes who gave their lives for the independence of Greece.
On October 20, 1827, the Russian squadron, together with the English and French (26 ships in total), defeated the combined Turkish-Egyptian fleet (66 ships), opening the way for the rebel Greeks to win freedom and independence. The main role in the four-hour battle was played by the Russian fleet. On the battleship “Azov”, which fought five Turkish ships at once and destroyed the enemy’s flagship frigate, there were naval commanders Lazarev, Kornilov, Istomin and Nakhimov. The Turks and Egyptians lost a total of about 60 ships and 7,000 men that day.
Read more about the battle in the post 194 years ago, the Russian squadron destroyed the Turkish-Egyptian fleet in the Battle of Navarino
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