On the eve of Russia's Victory Day, Russian leaders laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in downtown Moscow on Sunday. ' In the Alexandrovsky Garden, President Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and speakers of the Russian parliament along with other officials, laid their wreaths and paid their homage to fallen soldiers who sacrificed in the Great Patriotic War.


Russian President Dmitry Medvedev attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside Moscow's Kremlin, Russia, on May 8, 2011. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Chairman of Russia's Federation Council Sergei Mironov, Chairman of the Russian State Duma Boris Gryzlov and other officials and veteran representatives attended the wreath-laying ceremony here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Liu Lihang)
Several veterans who had participated in the Great Patriotic War, the Russian term for World War II, also attended the ceremony.


According to the Kremlin press service, Medvedev was also scheduled to meet with veterans who had fought in the Great Patriotic War and representatives of military-patriotic organizations later in the day.


On May 9, Russia will celebrate the 66 anniversary of the World War II victory over Nazi Germany.


Local reports said the Moscow authorities have allocated some 102 million rubles (3.7 million U.S. dollars) on preparation of the Victory Day parade.


VietNamNet/Xinhuanet