Liquidator From Kalinkavichy: I Protested And Will Protest Against Such "Order"

Yesterday the Belarusians were deprived of the benefits, and today they are not allowed to talk about it.

The Kalinkavichy district executive committee forbade liquidator of the Chernobyl disaster Vasil Siliviorst to hold a picket next Saturday, on September 29, during which he wanted to draw attention to the problems of the liquidators of the Chernobyl disaster, Homel Viasna informs.

The deputy chairman of the district executive committee, Valiantsin Vasiuta, found a formal reason for refusing: no contracts had been concluded with the police, the hospital and the housing and communal services. In addition, the picket was declared in the square at the crossroads of Pianerskaya and Kuibyshau streets in Kalinkavichy, while the only permitted place in the district center is the Spartak stadium.

Vasil Siliviorst says that he wanted to draw the attention of citizens publicly to the absence of social benefits and social security, medical care, low pensions for the liquidators in the country.

"They took away the privileges of the liquidators of the Chernobyl disaster yesterday, and today they forbid talking about it! I protested and will protest against this order. Our proposal to publish a book of memory about the liquidators of the Chernobyl disaster, residents of Kalinkavichy district, also found no understanding on the part of the authorities. The authorities left the liquidators to survive," – the liquidator states.

Vasil Siliviorst describes how, in 1988, he, a reserve officer, an absolutely healthy 30-year-old man, was called up for special gatherings and sent to Chernobyl. After six months of service, problems with eyes began. Then the heart started to ache. Pathological changes in the thyroid gland appeared. He left home being healthy, and six months later, he returned being an invalid.

"Two infarcts, the cataract, the thyroid gland – and doctors are trying to convince me that there is no connection with Chernobyl! Several years ago I even declared a hunger strike, but the power do not hear the liquidators of the Chernobyl disaster," – he resents.

Today, the liquidator has appealed in court the refusal to the picket.