May 4 before Radunica in the Sparrow forest north of the village of Chajsy, on the supposed site of mass graves of victims of Stalin's repressions social activists Viciebsk held a cleanup: removed the dry twigs and leaves, filled the empty pit, buried human bones...

Thus Viciebsk activists once again reminded the public about the need for a speedy resolution of the problem of the official identification of the found human remains. Eighteen months have passed since then, as it was announced about black diggers plundered graves, but the authorities are in no hurry to officially announce who and under what circumstances, was killed in the forest. According to activists, the attitude of the authorities on the border with the deliberate concealment of the truth about Stalin's crimes.

At the same time, as the "Chajsy" say members of the initiative, nearly three dozen witnesses from villages Chajsy, staves and Viciebsk clearly mentioned include burial to the prewar period. However, no government agency does not want to pay attention to this fact. Based on formal grounds, they claim that a person who before the war was anywhere from five to sixteen years of age may not be witnesses of those events.

According to civil society activists, the current toloka became the next step in the restoration of historical justice and respect for their ancestors, especially to their martyrdom. Cleanup participants noted that the abuse of the victims of Stalinism, which have found their last resting place in the woods near Chajsy, stretched for eight decades: first, they were forcibly deprived of life; then their graves were looted and scattered their remains in the forest no one was interested, and after work search battalion and all were taken to an unknown location. When human remains are buried, it is still only a guess.

Here's how to explain some of the participants in the cleanup its presence on it.

Says Ms. Elena: "I am here because it concerns me directly. There may lie my grandparents, who were repressed. My mother even before his death, not introduced us to the circumstances of their lives. This topic has been closed in our family, although my mother loved to tell others about our ancestors. That's how strong was the fear inherent Stalinism deep consciousness of the people of that generation. And that's why I came here, because who knows, maybe this is where they are? Now there is a cemetery in Viciebsk even for dogs, where they were buried in a human, and establish memorials. For the animals are treated better than then to treat people. And we must be aware of this and remind the other."

Ms. Tatiana: "I was brought here a sense of responsibility. Responsibility for the fact that it once was, and what is happening now. Gathering here are the bones, putting them in a coffin, giving them the land, I always thought, "I think as a Christian, I have forgiven deed Stalin's executioners," but my heart says no! To forgive is not possible. How many lives, how much space as Unfulfilled dreams lie in the forest! And the descendants of Stalin's pack did not want to admit this place a place of Victims of Political Repression! You have to understand: as long as they do not repent of their crimes, they will not be forgiveness! They do not forgive neither God nor people."

Mr. Vladimir: "I am interested in this theme for a long time. Four years ago I was in Katyn. At the meeting, which was held by the representatives of the Russian authorities, churches, workers Katyn museum could take the bus for free. Why not do the same in us? In Smolensk, in a time of repression were shot more than seven thousand people. This information is not hidden. Given the similarity of the pre-war Viciebsk and Smolensk, we can talk about such a number of victims of repression, buried in the vicinity of Viciebsk. Why they can not in this case lie here?"

Mr. Leonid: "I came to this place to pay tribute to those people who were killed by the Stalinists hands, for Stalinism shadow still hangs over our country. And it is quite alarming sign. Anyone who understands this, must act and be reminded of the possible danger. We must understand that forgetfulness and concealing the truth only increase the potential threat of repression of political opponents of any power..."

S. Horki