"I sincerely congratulate war veterans, home-front workers and all Russians on the 60th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War (WWII) and the defeat of Nazism," the mufti said.
He said that Muslims and believers of other religions in the Soviet Union had "fought shoulder to shoulder against the Nazis and forged Victory on the home front."
Gainutdin said people had to remember this always and care for the unity of spirit that had been paid for with the blood of fallen defenders of the homeland.
He wished veterans longevity, good health and a "peaceful sky above [their] heads."
Gaunutdin will attend the May 9 Victory Parade at the invitation of the president along with the leaders of Russia's other traditional faiths (Orthodox Christianity, Buddhism and Judaism).
The Council says hundreds of Muslims were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. They included a famous soldier, Alexander Matrosov, who covered an enemy emplacement with his own body, a celebrated general, Mahmud Gareyev, and Musa Dzhafiil, who wrote a famous poem about the war years.
