Members of the commission set up by local authorities to perpetuate the memory of Fatherland Defenders and War Victims met with the public. The meeting took place on February 12 at the premises Mazałava village council. It has become the government's response to a collective appeal to the Executive Committee of the Viciebsk region the founders of the public association "Chajsy".
The signatories of this appeal offered to the district authorities to perpetuate the memory of the alleged victims of Stalinism and bury their remains directly in the place where they were found, that is in Vierabjovy wood.
In addition to the Deputy Chairman of the Viciebsk Regional Executive Committee on Social Affairs Xenia Karabach, who heads the committee, the meeting was attended by head of the department of ideological work, Culture and Youth Marina Zdolnikova, chief specialist of the department and the secretary of the commission at the same time, Irina Tarasova and the chairman of the Mazałava village council Leonid Dubina.
As noted by Xenia Karabach, the Commission is not in a position to respond positively to the proposals made in the statement. The fact that the order of perpetuating found in the district of unrecorded remains strictly regulated. Therefore, before making a definite decision, the Commission must make a number of preliminary activities.
Commission secretary Irina Tarasova has acquainted the participants with the materials related to the detected dumping, which are currently available to the Commission. She stated that there is a systematic study of them. I reported it and that no National Archives RB or KGB department for the Viciebsk region have no information about the location of mass graves in the years of repression and war in surroundings Chajsy.
According to information announced by, the Investigative Committee refused to open a criminal case due to the poor preservation of skeletal remains. Like, it prevents the determination of the exact cause of death. But at the same time, without explaining why, representatives of the UK have taken the responsibility to assert that dumping may be related to the events of 1941-1945.
He voiced by Secretary of the Commission and the conclusions of archaeologist 52nd search battalion Vadim Tomilin, who believes that the burial can be dated to the period from 1936 to 1941. However, archaeologists say that the exact dating of the burial preclude the fact that the remains of the lost anatomical integrity, and a significant number of findings had disappeared before the start prospecting.
After Irina Tarasova has paid special attention to the fragment of a German tunic, those present had the impression that it is tangible evidence was the most significant of all detected. Interestingly, the examination of a small piece of tissue was performed with the utmost care, which was lacking when it came to human remains. How not to recall that before this thing mentioned and correspondent for the regional newspaper, and the police officer that even a special visit to the place of burial, and the representatives of the Mazałava village council. It seems that the German military jacket is a kind of trump card in the hands of the authorities, which can beat any "non-constructive" public arguments.
Social activists, for their part, expressed their own vision problems caused their arguments and made comments on the Commission voiced materials.
Vladimir Ivanov, who once worked as an investigator of Internal Affairs, drew attention to two important points to clarify the truth – on relativity and admissibility of evidence. As he noted, the relativity – that is what is relevant to the event; affordability – investigation materials designed properly. Unformed materials are not allowed as evidence. Conclusions does one who analyzes the material that came to him. Starting from the basics of criminology, Vladimir Ivanov put the question: "Why, having the same or very similar material, archaeologist Tomilin makes some conclusions, and the Investigative Committee of others? Does this mean that the Investigative Committee of the conclusions unsubstantiated? "The former investigator also drew attention to the fact that the decision not to institute criminal proceedings ahead of the conclusions of archaeologist search battalion from field excavations.
According to Ivanov, the error can be considered the fact that the search battalion excavated graves only those who previously were opened black diggers. There is another question: "Why not search battalion unearthed intact burial?" This year, it makes sense to continue the search operation, Vladimir Ivanov assured.
Commenting, social activists drew the attention of the Commission to the fact that most found during excavations bullets owned weapons, which enjoyed mass executions of the NKVD team (Colt forty-five caliber pistol revolver and Mosin rifle). Also found traces of skulls have bullet penetration in the neck that a large degree of certainty indicates the burial belongs to the period of Stalinist repression.
One speaker noted that the title of the commission itself – "to perpetuate the memory of Fatherland Defenders and the victims of wars" – is a certain part of the public confidence in the objectivity of its work. The name suggests that consideration of the possible burial accessory at the time of Stalinist repression is formally outside of the competence of the Commission.
A member of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Kastus Smolikau noted that members of the public are ready for constructive cooperation with the commission, but do not see on the part of any initiative. He called the district committee to contact the Investigation Committee with a proposal to initiate a criminal case regarding the found remains. According to Mr. Smolikau, it would have contributed to the work of the commission, and, and the Truth. Offer Xenia Karabach opposition immediately rejected ...
Not satisfied Xenia Karabach and request the inclusion of the district commission of representatives of the civil initiative "Chajsy". As she explained, such a procedure does not provide its regulations. But to invite the public to a particular meeting on a particular issue – the commission has the full right.
Deputy Chairman of the Viciebsk Regional Executive Committee Xenia Karabach, presided over the meeting, more than once urged those present: the commission's work open and transparent, it continues, the issue is not closed, is the collection of data and information relating to the matter. The official noted that the voiced at the meeting materials are entitled to say that in Belarus the topic of the NKVD victims are not closed, so there is no taboo. Now the Commission is studying materials that are controversial.
At the end of the meeting initiator of collective appeal to Jan Dzyarzhautsau authorities showed the audience video memories villager of Chajsy Dmitry Goncharov, who remembers some episodes relating to the pre-war repression in the area.
S. Horki
photo: vitebskby.com
