Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday attended a ceremony to open a museum of the 1812 Patriotic War against Napoleon in Moscow and visited the renovated Triumphal Arch.
The museum was opened as part of Russia’s celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of its victory in the war.
The museum was due to open in around 1912 to coincide with the 100th anniversary celebrations, but the building was never built. Most of its exhibits have been handed over to the Historical Museum in Moscow.
“By opening this museum in today, when we mark the 200th anniversary of our historical victory in the War of 1812, we are putting the historical record straight,” Medvedev said.
The Russian premier also visited the Grand Triumphal Arch, built in 1834 to celebrate the victory over Napoleon. The arch, one of Russia’s first monuments dedicated to the victory in the War of 1812, opened on Tuesday after renovation.
“The arch was renovated ahead of the anniversary celebrations, and by this we restore our cultural heritage, our spirit of patriotism and our historical memory,” Medvedev said.
