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Polish delegation to attend memorial ceremonies in Smolensk

Commemorative lamps are to be lighted and flowers are to be laid near the memorial slab marking the site of the crash of the plane of the then President Lech Kaczynski
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

SMOLENSK, April 10 (Itar-Tass) — Memorial ceremonies marking the second anniversary of the Polish presidential jet crash are to be held here on Tuesday. Governor's press secretary Andrei Yevseyenkov has told Itar-Tass, "A Polish delegation, led by Minister of Culture Bogdan Zdrojewski, is expected to arrive here (to attend the ceremonies)". The Polish delegation will include about 150 people -- members of the air crash victims' families and officials of state institutions.

Commemorative lamps are to be lighted, an ecumenical prayet is to be said, and flowers are to be laid near the memorial slab marking the site of the crash of the plane of the then President Lech Kaczynski of the Republic of Poland. The ceremony will be also attended by officials of the Smolensk Region administration and local residents. According to Governor Sergei Antufyeb, "The (2010) tragedy staggered not only the Poles but also people in Smolensk Region and throughout Russia".

On Tuesday afternoon, the Polish delegation will visit the Katyn Memorial, located 18 km west of the regional center. Wreaths are to be laid at the graves of the innocent victims there, and an Orthodox requiem mass is to be said. An ecumenical prayer is to be offered at the Polish military cemetery. Wreaths are also to be laid there by representatves of Poland and Russia.