Expert on investigation of genocide during WWII: Belarus will defend its truth and call everything by its proper name

An international scientific and practical conference dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide has recently been held in Minsk. Many serious statements were made, and a great sum to be compensated to Belarus has been determined. Vadim Gigin, the Director General of the National Library of Belarus, commented on the event.

In general, all the work that is being carried out within the framework of the investigation of the genocide case is attracting an increasing attention. “People are concerned about the topic of genocide, they turn to this issue,” Mr. Gigin noted in his talk with Alfa Radio. “I would highlight several important aspects. Firstly, the investigation of the case of the genocide of the Belarusian people during the Great Patriotic War has become much talked about, thus turning into one of the most important factors in the formation of the Belarusian national historical memory. Secondly, thanks to this investigation, we have learned of many previously unknown facts, and there has been made enormous contribution to historical science and criminology, because various methods of establishing the facts of committed crimes were used. We are dealing with horrific facts that took place in our past. On seeing dental crowns, baby shoes, on getting to know that mothers were buried alive together with infants... That all was done, among other things, under the white-red-white flag by the 13th SD police battalion.”

The expert recalled that the Belarusian society’s history was difficult, “We need to know about it, we must talk about it. The investigation of the case of the genocide of the Belarusian people during the Great Patriotic War is also a challenge to those countries that rehabilitate Nazism. Unfortunately, our neighbours are among them: the Baltic States and Ukraine, who are trying to hide, hush up and justify these crimes. Great attention was drawn to a high-profile case in the Canadian Parliament, though it was Canada that became one of the states that made a huge contribution to the concealment of the crimes of Nazism. It sheltered a large number of former Nazi criminals, including those from the 14th SS Division Galicia. There was a commission of Jules Deschamps, which actually created a theoretically false, absolutely cynical, Jesuit basis for the acquittal of criminals and their protection. The results of the activities of this so-called commission formed the basis for the rehabilitation of Nazism and its revival in the territory of present-day Ukraine.”

Mr. Gigin emphasised that the entire justification base of Nazism is largely based on the materials of this commission, “This has political consequences. We urge the countries that are trying to make any claims to the Republic of Belarus to pay attention to themselves: they have not yet paid for the crimes that were committed by their representatives on our territory. Of course, we can say that WWII and the Great Patriotic War are something of the past, and maybe somehow we would have partially agreed with this. However, look: they name streets, schools, parks, museums in honour of these people, they are awarded!”

“Look at what is happening in Lithuania and Latvia. Amazingly, modern Germany is even behaving more honestly in this regard, though it was the birthplace of Nazism. In Germany, a square is not named after Hitler, and a law university – after Reinhard Heydrich. By the way, Nazi Germany has been fully involved in the work of Interpol for a long time. Some representatives of the International Red Cross, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1944, took part in the concealment of crimes. They travelled with commissions to prisoner of war camps, and then confirmed that they had seen allegedly good treatment of people there. Many facts were not public earlier, there was a certain concept of reconciliation when no one wanted to quarrel. However, what is the result of that policy? It has led to accusations against us, our ancestors, and the Soviet Union. Sorry, but this will not be like that! We will defend our truth, call everything by its proper name and talk about the compensation that we have the right to demand,” Mr. Gigin stressed.

The expert added that the Chairman of the Supreme Court, Valentin Sukalo, voiced a proposal to make a court decision on the criminal case of genocide. “This is no longer just an investigation by the Prosecutor General's Office. A court decision will be made, and this topic was discussed at the recent Minsk conference. We are grateful for the support we have received from the international community,” Mr. Gigin added.