The Orsha youth participated in events for the Day of Remembrance of the victims of the genocide crime
December 9 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide, honoring their dignity and preventing this crime – one of the most mournful dates for Belarus.
Our country lost a third of its population during the Great Patriotic War. On the eve of the Day of Remembrance, events are held across the country aimed at preserving historical truth, commemorating the memory of millions who perished, and educating the youth in the spirit of citizenship and patriotism.
One such event was a dialogue platform held at the Military-Historical Museum named after Hero of the Soviet Union K. S. Zaslonov. Participants included employees of the Orsha railway junction and students from the Orsha College – a branch of the Belarusian State Transport University. The speakers were Vitebsk Transport Prosecutor Konstantin Shienok and the chairperson of the Orsha District Organization of the Belarusian Public Association of Veterans Zinaida Khaychenko.
The main topic of discussion was the large-scale work initiated by the General Prosecutor's Office four years ago to investigate the facts of genocide against the Belarusian people. Konstantin Shienok emphasized that the basis of the criminal case consisted of numerous documentary evidence of the crimes committed by the occupiers and their accomplices. More than 19,000 people have already been interrogated, thousands of new facts of population destruction have been identified, and excavations are being conducted at mass burial sites.
The speaker paid special attention to the example of the Resolution of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus dated March 18, 2024, regarding Vladimir Katryuk – a guilty verdict without sentencing. Such decisions, the prosecutor emphasized, are an important part of restoring justice and preserving the memory of crimes that cannot be forgotten.
Zinaida Khaychenko supported the position of the necessity of a careful attitude towards historical memory. In her speech, she urged the youth to actively study the history of the country, meet with veterans, and visit museums, as the stories of defenders inspire and teach to value peace.
No less substantial was the information hour "Genocide: Cannot Repeat!", held at the Orsha Medical College. Its participants were first-year students, and the speaker was the deputy prosecutor of the Orsha district Sergey Sinitsky. A thematic exhibition reflecting the scale of Nazi crimes on Belarusian soil operated in the college foyer: books about burned villages, infographics about war victims, thematic posters.
Sergey Sinitsky detailed the atrocities of the occupiers to the students, as well as modern examples of investigating crimes against humanity. He emphasized that the current generation must preserve the memory and truth about the Great Patriotic War and not allow history to be rewritten.
Viktor SOSNOVSKY