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Putin lays wreath at Memorial to Soviet Soldiers at Budapest’s Central Cemetery

In all, as many as 4,898 soldiers and officers are buried at this cemetery, 21 of them were Heros of the Soviet Union

BUDAPEST, February 17. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday laid a wreath at the Memorial to Soviet Soldiers at Budapest’s Central Cemetery.

The Russian president accompanied by Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolay Pankov walked up to the obelisk in the center of the memorial. The honour guard of the Presidential Regiment placed the wreath laced with a band featuring the colours of the Russian flag reading "From the President of the Russian Federation" at the obelisk.

Founded in 1847, Kerepesi Cemetery is located in downtown Budapest and is one of the biggest National Pantheons in Europe and the biggest outdoor statue park with its area of about 56 hectares. In January 1945, after Budapest was liberated from the Nazi troops, Kerepesi’s northeastern section was used to bury Soviet soldiers. In 1947, an obelisk was placed in the centre of the memorial. In all, as many as 4,898 soldiers and officers are buried at this cemetery. Twenty one of them were Heros of the Soviet Union. As many as 456 servicement are still unknown.