History Expedition Set off for Kuril Islands

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY. May 27. VOSTOK-MEDIA – The 11^th Kamchatka-Kurils history expedition set off for Kuril Islands today to discover new findings on WWII. The first Kamchatka-Kurils expedition took place in July 2003.

Irina Viter, a participant in the expedition, said that experts in various fields are taking part in this year’s voyage. “Among us there are two archeologists, who will conduct research of a recently discovered encampment of the Ainu, highly-skilled divers, who will dive below a depth of 180 meters, and experts from the Great Patriotic War Museum. I’d like to thank Primorsky Krai representative office of the United Russia party and all those who helped us for the assistance in purchasing the necessary equipment. It’s their support that made this expedition possible,” she said.

Addressing the participants in the expedition, Valery Rayenko, the head of the United Russia faction in the Kamchatka Krai Legislative Assembly said: “It’s been two weeks since our country and the whole world celebrated the 65^th Anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany and it may seems that there’s nothing to discover about the war. However, there are still a lot of details missing about the battles at the eastern borders of Russia. It’s vital that as any Russians as possible know and remember this battle.”

“We are must know and hand down to the posterity the truth about the Kuril Islands Landing Operation, about the challenges the Kuril landing troops faced and difficulties they overcame. This scientific expedition was made possible due to the history enthusiasts, whom we are accompanying today to their research site. The United Russia has always supported and will support them in their benevolent undertakings. Thanks to the history enthusiasts there are fewer and fewer blind spots in the history of the battle,” Valery Rayenko said.

“Today, on behalf of the United Russia party and Youth Guard of United Russia, which provided support for the exhibition, we hand the flag to the participants in the voyage. The flag is a symbol of the expedition. It will accompany you throughout the scientific endeavor,” he said.

Taking the flag, Evgeny Vereshchaga, an officer at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Foreign Affairs Department, said he would make his best to discover new facts about the battle. “For me this is a life-time project. It’s impossible to relate the whole story about the Kuril Islands in a few words. Each expedition has its own mysteries and secrets for you to discover. It is symbolical that Saint George Chapel will be mounted on Matua Island. The place for the construction of the chapel, which was chosen last year by Archbishop Ignaty during the 10^th Kamchatka-Kurils expedition, provides an excellent idea of how great Russia is. The 14-meter-high chapel will be made of Kamchatka larch and it will give an answer to those who make claims to Kuril Islands. This land is ours.”