Head of union of Great Patriotic War veterans demands to close website “Belorusski Partizan”

In his opinion, the electronic media outlet doesn’t have the right to use “sacred” for the veterans words in the title.

The official newspaper “Respublika” published a letter of A. Slabada, the head of the Minsk region branch of the Belarusian Association of Veterans, Hero of Socialist Labour, honorary citizen of the Minsk region.

This is the full version of the letter:

“We, the veterans of the Great Patriotic War living in the Minsk region, are deeply indignant at mocking using of sacred for our words “Belarusian guerrillas” in the title of the independent electronic mass media outlet (the website www.belaruspartisan.org).

The Minsk region was one of the first centres where guerrilla squads were organized to fight the fascists and their supporters. There were 3 guerrilla detachments, 45 brigades, 213 squads in the region. during the occupation period. 55,000 guerrillas fought in the Minsk region.

The young and old rose on struggling against the aggressors. The occupants didn’t have rest. The ground was burning under their feet, ruins were firing point-blank at occupants.

To our great regret, certain persons try to re-write the history of the Great Victory. Pursuing their ignoble aims, these people do not reckon with the price we and our friends had given for the sake of future generations in a free and independent country.

Using the words “Belarusian guerrilla” in the title of the website insults the participants of the Great Patriotic War with the fact that provocation materials of the website have clear biased and anti-Belarusian character. The information on the website often represents lies, facts and events in the republic are flagrantly falsified. Editors of the media outlet give floor to the so called independent politicians and experts, who live in Belarus but have no shame to pour dirt on the people of Belarus and the country’s our leadership, ignore successes of Belarus, and equate the words ‘guerrilla’ and ‘oppositionist’.

This year, we mark the 65th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War. We feel how our state cares for us. We call on society to support our position.”

“I don’t want to argue with veterans whom I respect. My great-grandmother was a communication agent in a guerrilla squad, she kept a banner of the Red Army division at home. Her neighbour squealed on her to the police. My great-grandmother was hanged by Nazis, later a street in the town of Asipovichy was named after her. Her son Mikalai, my grandfather, was a guerrilla. The other grandfather Stanislau, a Red Army officer, was sent to a concentration camp, but managed to escape and join a guerrilla squad. They died long time ago. I love my grandfathers; I remember their kind eyes and wise advice. There are few real war veterans, we must take care of them, so I’d like to ask A. Slabada not to worry, it is bad for health. There are far more important problems in Belarus than a war against the website “Belorusski Partizan”, Pavel Sharamet (Sheremet), a famous journalist and founder of the website, commented on the letter of veterans.

He thinks the letter is not an accident. This resembles the recent scandal with closing the cafe “Anti-Soviet” in Moscow, but this case has different roots.

Now we can wait for the heavy guns, such as militia raids, KGB special operations and other special events, to be brought in. the authorities are apparently preparing for the forthcoming presidential elections, Sharamet thinks.