During his visit to Turkmenistan, Saint Petersburg Vice Governor Vladimir Omelnitsky laid flowers at the "People's Memory" monument in Ashgabat and honored the memory of the defenders of the siege of Leningrad.

"We visited the majestic People's Memory Memorial, which symbolizes the heroism of the Turkmen people throughout various historical periods, and laid flowers at this magnificent monument, honoring the memory of those who died during the Great Patriotic War defending the city of Leningrad," he told reporters during an event at the Russian Embassy in Turkmenistan.

He conveyed words of gratitude to the Turkmen people on behalf of the government of St. Petersburg for their support of the residents of besieged Leningrad during the war.

"I would like to express my gratitude to the entire Turkmen people for the warm welcome shown to the residents of Leningrad, the survivors of the siege, during the Great Patriotic War. These 32 thousand people from Leningrad and its environs have found a second home here," the vice governor said.

The Siege of Leningrad, which lasted 872 days—from September 8, 1941, to January 27, 1944—was one of the most tragic chapters in the history of the Great Patriotic War. The "People's Memory" memorial complex was opened in Ashgabat on October 6, 2014.