Belarusian youth urges world community to never let genocide revive
The Central Committee of the Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRYU) has addressed the world community with a message. As informed by the First Secretary of the BRYU Central Committee, Aleksandr Lukyanov, the document was signed by representatives of various public associations of Belarus.
The address reads:
"We, the Belarusian people, on behalf of the largest public associations and organisations of the country, address the world community on the day of the memory of the Khatyn tragedy!
Millions of sons and daughters of the Soviet people became victims of the fascist genocide during the Great Patriotic War and WWII as a whole. The crime, planned in advance and in detail, had a clear goal: to exterminate the people, to take possession of their cradle-Homeland, to obliterate not only our cities and villages, but also the memory of our ancestors’ great historical and cultural heritage.
Over the years of occupation, the Nazis conducted over 140 major punitive operations in Belarus, many of which had cynical names: i.e. Winter Magic that was qualified by the FRG justice as a crime against humanity. During such operations, carried out by scorched-earth tactics, many settlements were destroyed – including large cities and small villages. Of over 5,295 settlements destructed and burned by the German occupiers and collaborators during the Great Patriotic War, 629 shared the fate of Khatyn; there, almost all residents were killed – burned alive! At least 185 villages have not been revived…
More than 260 death camps operated on the territory of occupied Belarus. Among them was Trostenets: it was another symbol of the atrocities of Nazism on our land. 206,500 people from many countries of Western and Eastern Europe were killed there. The names of Ola, Ozarichi, Krasny Bereg and Minsk ghetto resonate with bitter pain in the hearts of millions of people around the world.
It is quite obvious that the war – which the countries of the Nazi bloc waged against the Soviet Union – was a war of total annihilation! The world was saved from the brown plague for a long time owing to the unprecedented valour and heroism of the Soviet people, a huge contribution of the Belarusian people to the Victory, and the allies’ assistance.
It is painful to realise that a period of trials is continuing for our peoples at present. It has become an open wound and daily anxiety for the future. We should not allow the revival of genocide in the modern world!
We will never forget the terrible events of the Great Patriotic War. We will never forgive the crimes of the enemy on our land. We, the heirs of the Brest Fortress’ defenders, remember, cherish and will preserve the history for centuries. This is the strength of our people!"
