KazNU Professor took part in the International Book Fair in Minsk

Leila Akhmetova, a professor at the Faculty of Journalism of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, participated in the 32nd International Book Fair in Minsk, invited by the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Belarus. The event was attended by representatives from over 20 countries.

After the official opening of the exhibition, Kazakhstan's National Day was announced, during which Professor L. Akhmetova presented her 11 books dedicated to the Great Patriotic War. Additionally, a lecture on the book "1941. Brest Fortress. Kazakhstan" was presented to the participants.

During her speech, Professor Leila Akhmetova from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University shared that during the Soviet era, 29 Kazakhstani defenders of the Brest Fortress were known, but in 2016, she published 556 names of Kazakhstani defenders in her book, as well as over 200 names of participants in the battles near the city of Brest. Currently, L.Akhmetova is working on the second volume of her book 1941. Brest Fortress. Kazakhstan. Today, the lists include 701 Kazakhstani defenders of the Brest Fortress and over 300 Kazakhstani participants in the battles around the city of Brest. The professor has been conducting volunteer search work for 57 years. Since 2011, she has regularly visited the Brest Fortress and worked in its archives. "I express my gratitude to the memorial complex 'Brest Fortress – Hero' for their moral and patriotic feat in gathering materials about the Great Patriotic War, the heroism of the Soviet people who defended the country and defeated fascism and Nazism", - said L. Akhmetova

During the XXXII International Book Fair in Minsk, the International Forum of Writers took place, with representatives from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia (Bashkortostan, Dagestan, Kalmykia, Moscow, Chuvashia), Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Leila Seysenbekovna gave a talk about the pre-war years in the life of the Brest Fortress, as seen through the eyes of military correspondent M. Daurenbaev from the 333rd Rifle Regiment.

The professor also participated in and spoke at the roundtable discussion "Writer and Time" at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Belarus. She talked about the Council for the Preservation of Historical Memory of the Assembly of the Peoples of Eurasia and Africa. L. Akhmetova is the chairwoman of this organization. During her two-day business trip, Professor L. Akhmetova from KazNU gave 11 interviews to international media. She familiarized herself with the work of the Writers' Union of Belarus and made arrangements with the writers for further collaboration in the fields of scientific research, search work, literary, and journalistic activities.

Press-service of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University