"Ring All Bells, Save People!": Emotional Outpouring Of Belarusian

Anyone who underestimates the danger of the coronavirus becomes an accomplice to the authorities' crime.

Belarusian Tatsiana Matsiushonak, who is in isolation in Moscow, published an emotional message on Facebook in connection with the threat hanging over people because of the inaction of the Belarusian authorities during the coronavirus epidemic:

"I can't keep quiet! I am a Belarusian. You can't change your place of residence. I have my mother, friends, relatives and my sister's grave in Belarus.

I don't want any more graves. My mother lives in Babruisk alone, goes to the shop and the polyclinic, reads newspapers and watches TV. She's 70 years old. If she gets sick or dies, none of her children will come.

I'm in isolation in Moscow. The youngest daughter and the grandchildren are in quarantine in Milan. We order Mom's groceries home and ask her not to leave the house. In return, she reads us "Sovetskaya Belorussia" and quotes TV. There's no epidemic in Belarus. Walking in a mask in the street is a shame. Coronavirus has failed to get to Babruisk.

As long as you, dear mass media, doctors, teachers, officials, "suppress the panic," telling everyone through the central channels how to treat the coronavirus with soda, tractor and vodka, fussing over your posts, do not control your words, are afraid, give in or just keep quiet - you are killing my mother.

You are killing many other moms, dads, grandparents, including your own. Don't brush people off with dry, agreed-upon paper reports. Do you believe in them yourself?

Show us the hospital rooms! Patient diagnoses! Ask people what they're sick with and what complaints they have? What tests and when were taken?

Screw your duty interviews with stuttering officials dying of fear of losing their seats. Give me the facts! Voices! Ring all the bells! Save the people!

I worked for 13 years on Belarusian TV and I understand that you live under the pressure. But I know that it's always, ALWAYS, possible to tell people the truth. You have a voice!

And you can save thousands of lives with it. Look for the truth, tell it! Otherwise, why are you even needed? Don't be silent accomplices to crime. No one but you will save us."