Brooklyn Borough President

BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARTY MARKOWITZ HONORS RUSSIAN AMERICAN SOLDIERS

In photo pictured from left to right: (front) Sergeant Andrey Baranovsky, Corporal Michael Chernyak, Borough President Marty Markowitz, Lance Corporal Vitaly Kryzhanovskiy, Specialist Andrei Marinovich; (back) Lance Corporal Peter Kapitonov

Photographs by Amelia D’Entrone

On Tuesday, August 24, Borough President Marty Markowitz joined the Be Proud Foundation with the American War Veterans of Russian Descent Committee (RAS) to honor returning Russian-American servicemen of Operation Iraqi Freedom and other anti-terrorist campaigns.

“On behalf of the 2.5 million residents of Brooklyn, I wholeheartedly salute and thank the Russian-American men and women for their exemplary record of service to this great country, in upholding our precious democratic ideals, in ensuring the preservation of our liberty and freedom, and in fighting to protect our people and nation,” said Borough President Markowitz.

The ceremony took on a more somber note for a special commemoration for Green Beret Captain Michael Tarlavsky. Capt. Tarlavsky, 30 years old, originally from Latvia, was killed in Najaf, Iraq on August 12, 2004. He was buried yesterday at Arlington National Cemetery. Tarlavsky leaves behind his wife Tricia and his 10-month-old son, Joseph Michael.

Soldiers honored at the ceremony included Purple Heart recipient Sergeant Alex Presman. Sergeant Presman, 27 years old, was wounded by a land mine in Iraq in December 2002. President George Bush awarded Sgt. Presman his Purple Heart via the Commandant of the Marine Corps and later visited him on August 2, 2003, his 26th birthday. Sgt. Presman was raised in Minsk, Belarus and immigrated to New York in 1992.

Two New York City police officers were also recognized. Specialist Ruslan Matviiv, 30 years old, was raised in Kishenev, Moldova. Spc. Matviiv joined the New York City Police Department after returning from Iraq. Also present was Corporal Sergey Timofeev of the 61st Precinct.