Vyachaslau Siuchyk: Regime keeps back the truth about “Homel Kurapaty”

The presentation of the documentary film “Forest of Death” about mass executions near Homel in the 1930ies was held in Homel by the Belarusian Voluntary Society of History and Culture monuments protection.

The film was created by Homel authors with the support of an independent TV studio and Monuments protection society. The film is dedicated to mass executions of people that took place in a forest area near Homel.

In summer 2007 the 52nd search squadron of Defence Ministry carried out excavation in the forest areas Try Slupy and Borki in the places of mass executions. Remains of 70 persons were unearthed. Dwellers of the villages nearby claim that the mass executions in the area took place in the 1930ies.

A commission created by Homel regional executive committee hasn’t made public the final report about who had been shot in forest areas Try Slupy and Borki.

“The story of “Homel Kurapaty” cannot be finished by creation of a film. It is unknown how many people had been murdered by the NKVD officers in this forest, who these people where. Unfortunately, the authorities do not admit obvious historical evidence, moreover, they are trying to conceal it,” Vyachaslau Siuchyk said during the presentation.