Moscow's Eternal Flame moved back to Alexander Garden

 

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (C) holds the torch as he takes part in the ceremony of lighting up the eternal flame in the centre of Moscow at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier February 23, 2010. The eternal flame was shifted temporarily to Moscow's Victory Park in December 2009 for the reconstruction of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin wall. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

MOSCOW, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Eternal Flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Kremlin was returned to its original site from a war memorial on Moscow's Poklonnaya Hill on Tuesday.

The flame was shipped from the memorial back to the Alexander Garden by an armored vehicle.

President Dmitry Medvedev lit the flame in the garden at a grand ceremony, which was attended by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, speakers of the two chambers of parliament, war veterans as well as other senior officials.

The flame was temporarily relocated late December due to renovation efforts to be completed by the end of April, days ahead of the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Russia plans to launch large-scale celebrations in May to mark the 65th anniversary of its victory in World War II.

The Eternal Flame was lit on May 8, 1967, to commemorate the heroes that died in the Great Patriotic War, also known as the Eastern Front of World War II.

 

 

Personnel armoured carriers with a Russian state flag carry the torch with the eternal flame in the centre of Moscow to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier February 23, 2010. The eternal flame was shifted temporarily to Moscow's Victory Park in December 2009 for the reconstruction of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin wall. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

 

 

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev lights up the eternal flame in the centre of Moscow at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier February 23, 2010. The eternal flame was shifted temporarily to Moscow's Victory Park in December 2009 for the reconstruction of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin wall.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)