No atrocities to be forgiven
Living participants of the atrocities against the residents of Belarus during the Great Patriotic War might be brought to justice – as stated by the Deputy Prosecutor General, Gennady Dysko
Last April, the Prosecutor General's Office opened a criminal case on the genocide of Belarus’ population during the Great Patriotic War and in the post-war period. It’s now actively being investigated by a group of experts – comprising representatives of the Prosecutor's Office and the Investigative Committee.
As Mr. Dysko has informed, practical assistance in the investigation is rendered by historians specialising in the study of the Great Patriotic War period and modern history. By now, more than 9,000 witnesses have been interrogated and most of them are prisoners (about 6,500). Over 250 inspections of the previously unknown burial sites have been conducted and thousands of archival materials have been studied.
The collected evidence confirms the inhumanity and purposefulness of the Nazi chasteners and their accomplices’ actions against the civilian population of Belarus. Numerous facts of murders, torture and humiliation have been detected. On addition, places of forced detention with unbearable conditions were created by the occupation authorities to use the prisoners’ labour in the enemy’s interests and able-bodied people were forcibly sent away to Germany. However, true scales of the tragedy have yet to be assessed, also taking into account the volume of property losses. According to preliminary estimates, the total amount of damage (based on inflation) may be equivalent to at least $500bn.
“Voluntary collaborationist formations consisting of representatives of Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine took part in the targeted destruction of the country's population. We have information about the presence of the Latvian SS Legions’ former members on the territory of western countries, of which about 22 are on the territory of Latvia. The investigation also has at its disposal a list of more than 800 members of the 2nd (later 12th) Lithuanian auxiliary police battalion of the Auxiliary Security Police of the German Reich (Great German Reich),” said Mr. Dysko, adding, “The Prosecutor General's Office has sent inquiries to Lithuania, Latvia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina and Brazil to provide legal assistance. The key goal is to verify the involvement of the above-mentioned members of the Nazi formations in the commission of crimes against the Belarusian people.”
Moreover, Belarus is actively co-operating with the Russian Federation which provides archival materials. Their analysis will enable the specialists to more efficiently organise the work on collecting evidence.
As stressed by the Deputy Prosecutor General, the Republic of Belarus will take all possible measures, including those provided for by international regulations, to bring the perpetrators to justice. The investigation will enable the Republic to identify the German invaders and their accomplices – including those who are still alive – who managed to avoid responsibility for atrocities in the occupied territory. “We’ll also then be able to initiate the recognition of the genocide of the Belarusian population. The evidence – obtained in line with the established procedure – will assist in terminating the recently emerged attempts to desecrate our history, belittle the feat of Soviet soldiers, and justify fascists and their henchmen,” Mr. Dysko noted.
