"Word Is Our Weapon": Minsk Honored Pavel Sheremet's Memory

Colleagues and relatives visited the grave of a journalist at the Severnoye Cemetery.

On the third anniversary of the journalist's murder, colleagues and relatives visited the grave of Pavel Sheremet in the Severnoye Cemetery in Minsk, baj.by reports.

Pavel's mother Liudmila Sheremet says that this year she had an occasional meeting with Petro Poroshenko, who once promised that the murder of Pavel would be solved. But this did not happen, so Liudmila Stanislavovna no longer believes the promises of politicians.

"In Ukraine, a new president, new security services, new leadership. They should take some measures, but they don't do anything ... If something was happening, we would know. I do not want to appeal to them anymore."

Thank you very much for remembering Pavel and for coming here. A deep bow to you for this. But I also want you to be careful," - Pavel's mother said to those present. - Veranika Charkasava's mother is standing next to me. It was a nice girl, she wrote great articles ... (The journalist Veranika Charkasava was murdered in her apartment on October 20, 2004. The investigation into this criminal case was suspended "due to the failure to find the person to be involved as an accused. - editor's note).

When it happened to Pavel, Veranika's mother told me: "Liudmila Stanislavauna, hold on." I said, "Well, you're holding on." That's how we both hold on.

- Liudmila Stanislavauna told today an upsetting story about the Belarusian drivers' refusal to deliver Pavel's photos to Kiev. He is remembered, and someone is afraid of him, afraid of his deeds even three years after the murder. It's hard for me to understand this position, but it shows that Pavel's personality plays a role both then and now," - BAJ chairman Andrei Bastunets said.

"Thank you all for coming here. Pavel is the man we look at, who is our teacher, an example of a brave journalist. Journalists cannot defend themselves with weapons, our weapon is a word. We can ask questions, look for answers to them, whoever is in power here or in Ukraine," - BAJ Deputy Chairman Barys Haretski said.

"Pavel was a special person. Big personalities are leaving - Pavel Sheremet and Aliaksandr Lipai last year. I remember Pavel with great warmth, he combined the greatness of a journalist and a person. We will remember him, it is not just our duty, but normal human feelings," - Dzmitry Navozhylau a journalist who knew Sheremet for many years, said.

Pavel Sheremet's wife, Natallia, arrived from Moscow. Pavel left two children - Mikalai and Yalizaveta.