The holiday of Victory Day is established by the Labor Code of the Kyrgyz Republic and is celebrated annually on May 9.
Typically, the main festive events of the country take place in Bishkek at the Eternal Flame in Victory Square, where an honor guard is displayed, along with troops from the Bishkek garrison and a separate military demonstration orchestra. On the morning of May 9, at 10 o'clock, the laying of wreaths and baskets of flowers at the Eternal Flame begins, followed by a moment of silence, at the end of which the honor guard unit fires a three-volley salute. The President of the Kyrgyz Republic and veterans of the Great Patriotic War speak at the rally. After the ceremonial march of the Bishkek garrison troops, veterans and guests are invited to the soldier's kitchen "At the Outpost." The celebrations for Victory Day conclude with a festive concert and fireworks.
May 9, 1945, is the day of victory of the Soviet people over fascist Germany in the Great Patriotic War, which began on June 22, 1941. The Day of Great Victory for the Soviet people is a symbol of unwavering spirit and heroism. Victory Day is also a day of remembrance. During the years of this terrible war of the 20th century, more than 28 million Soviet citizens perished, including over 130,000 Kyrgyzstani people. June 22, 1941, marked the beginning of the greatest trials for the entire Soviet Union and Kyrgyzstan (then the Kirghiz SSR).
From 1941 to 1945, Kyrgyzstan became one of the most important bastions of the unified military-economic organism of the USSR. More than 30 factories and plants were evacuated here. All of them quickly resumed operations. During the war years, Kyrgyzstan received over 300,000 migrants of various nationalities (Turks, Kurds, Chechens, Kalmyks, etc.), and more than 30,000 people were sent to work in military industrial enterprises outside the republic. The 316th and 385th rifle divisions, the 40th and 153rd separate rifle brigades, and the 107th and 108th national cavalry divisions were formed on the territory of Kyrgyzstan, as well as the 660th, 664th, and 666th night bomber aviation regiments based on the Frunze pilot school, which distinguished themselves in combat operations.
The 316th division, formed from conscripts from Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, earned eternal glory in the battles near Moscow. Among the 28 heroes of Panfilov, who stood to the death at the borders near Moscow, were residents of Kyrgyzstan: Duyshenkul Shopokov, Nikolai Ananyev, Ivan Moskalenko, Grigory Konkin, Grigory Petrenko, and Grigory Shemyakin. The Kirghiz SSR, like other union republics, actively participated in the struggle against fascism during the Great Patriotic War. The glorious sons and daughters of Kyrgyzstan made a significant contribution to the victory over fascism. More than 360,000 Kyrgyzstani people went to the front, demonstrating mass heroism and military valor; 22 of them became full holders of the Orders of Glory, and 73 were awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union, among them Duyshenkul Shopokov, Cholponbay Tuleberdiev, Daiyr Asanov, Asanbek Otorbaev, General I.V. Panfilov, and others. Over 150,000 warriors from Kyrgyzstan were awarded orders and medals, and more than 2,000 Kyrgyzstani people were honored with high awards for their valiant labor in the rear.
Victory Day has been celebrated since 1946; however, it became a non-working holiday only on the 20th anniversary of the defeat of Germany in 1965, when the first decree was issued, signed by Leonid Brezhnev, consolidating the entire system of Soviet holidays and memorial days.