News Article: Authorities in Minsk Ban March in Commemoration of Nazi Victims
"The US-based World Association of Belarusian Jews and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee planned to follow the victims' last mile from a prison on Volodarskogo Street to the site of the execution on Oktyabrskaya Street. The city government said that they could only hold a 30-minute rally in front of the memorial marking the site."
"The organizers have condemned the ban as 'another act of government-level anti-Semitism,' 'outrage on the memory of the fallen patriots and on the constitutional rights of Belarusian citizens.' Yakov Gutman, president of the World Association of Belarusian Jews, has issued a statement calling on "people of goodwill" to come to the memorial on October 26 [2000] to honor the memory of the victims of Nazism."
"Photos taken by the Germans prior to the execution were displayed at the Nuremberg Trial and have become known all over the world. The three victims included Vladimir Shcherbatsevich, Kirill Trus, and a girl whose name Mr. Gutman said is considered unknown in Belarus."
" 'The whole world knows that the girl's name was Masha Bruskina,' Mr. Gutman said. According to him, a Holocaust museum in Washington, D.C. awarded her a posthumous medal in 1997, but 'Masha Bruskina remains unknown in Belarus, because she was a Jew.' "
Source: BelaPAN, No. 112; Wednesday, October 25, 2000; 3:55 p.m.
Caution: Some of the images at the following links are explicit photos of the hangings, and may be extremely disturbing.
News Article: Unidentified Desecrate Monument to Holocaust Victims in Brest
"Mr. Blyakher said that the monument has been vandals' target for many years, but the last incident seems to be a deliberate act, judging by its timing."
"According to archive documents, the Nazis executed more than 30,000 Jews by shooting in Brest in October, 1942. About 25 synagogues were destroyed in the city during World War II."
"A report by the Brest collaborationist police, dated November 8, 1942, said, 'The local population was very sympathetic with the Jews during the campaign against them in October, 1942.' But further it said, 'Now the local population shows zeal for helping find Jews hiding in the forests.' "
Source: BelaPAN, No. 58; Friday, October 13, 2000; 2:40 p.m.
News Article: Anti-Semitic Posters Appear in Mensk
"The posters were stuck on the windows of the office of the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF), the building of the Police Academy, near School No. 23, which houses a Jewish Sunday school, and some other buildings. They were written in foul language and called for violence against the Jews. Some posters called for joining the Russian National Unity (RNE), an extremist movement founded in Russia in 1990."
"The authors of the posters may be prosecuted for an offense against ethnic and racial equality."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 40; Thursday, August 10, 2000; 4:20 p.m.
News Article: Exhibition Devoted to Brest Region's Jews Opens in Brest
"The exhibition features photographs and archives concerning prominent Israeli statesmen Chaim Weizmann, Golda Meir, Menachem Begin, and Izhak Shamir who were born in the Brest region or lived there."
"There are stands about Jewish monuments in the region, Jewish ghettos, Holocaust survivors, those who saved Jews during World War II, and Jews who defended the Brest Fortress during the war."
"There is also information about Pavel Nakhimov, a Russian admiral whose mother was born in Pinsk, and about Jews who emigrated to the United States and made a brilliant career there."
"The display includes paintings by Brest artists of the city's synagogue and a Jewish drug store. The exhibition is housed by the former synagogue building."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 15; Thursday, August 3, 2000; 8:30 p.m.
Belarus' Judaic Religious Association Joins European Council of Jewish Communities
"The ECJC was established in 1987 and currently represents Jewish communities in 37 countries. According to Mr. Dorn, the council acts as a "political umbrella" for Jewish communities, maintains government-level contacts, and helps member organizations find sponsors for their programs."
" 'We consider accession to the ECJC very important,' Mr. Dorn said. 'It brings Belarus' Judaic community to the international arena.' The JRA also expects much in terms of reviving Jewish culture and recovering Jewish property. With the assistance of the ECJC, Mr. Dorn said, the JRA hopes to establish a network of educational centers to help members of the community fully realize themselves as Jews."
"According to Mr. Dorn, the JRA currently represents 16 Jewish communities in Belarus and runs the Minsk College for Jewish Studies (Aish haTorah). Its offices in 18 Belarusian towns distribute aid among 14,000 Jewish families."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 19; Monday, June 5, 2000; 8:00 p.m.
Minsk City Soviet Committee Approves Proposal to Build Holocaust Memorial in Minsk
"Speaking at the session, Yakov Gutman, president of the US-based World Association of Belarusian Jewry, pointed out that 810,000 Belarusian Jews and 55,000 Jews from other parts of Europe had been slaughtered by the Nazis in Belarus in 1941-1944. According to Mr. Gutman, the idea of a Holocaust memorial was first put forward a decade ago, but the authorities are still ignoring the issue. Moreover, he said, there has been an attempt to destroy a Jewish cemetery, which dates as far back as 1872. In the opinion of the Jewish leader, the memorial could be erected either at the cemetery or on a site where 5,000 prisoners of the Minsk ghetto were massacred on March 2, 1942. Mr. Gutman also said that an international contest of projects would attract the attention and financial support of the diaspora."
"The committee recommended that the issue be considered by the Minsk City Executive Committee with the participation of Soviet members and international organizations."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 7; Thursday, June 1, 2000; 10:30 p.m.
"After the court of Minsk's Sovetsky district dismissed the suit on March 16 [2000], saying that the material of the book was of scientific nature, the plaintiffs took it to the Minsk City Court."
"Commenting on the Minsk City Court's ruling, Garri Pogonyailo, a lawyer who represented the plaintiffs, said that it 'was completely in line with the government's policy orientated to orthodoxy as the only state religion'. The lawyer described the book as anti-Semitic, racist, and fascistic. Mr. Pogonyailo said that the book's content was in conformity with the Belarusian leader's outlook and the ideals of Pan-Slavism and fascism that he follows."
"Mr. Pogonyailo said that not only Jews, but also Poles and Belarusians have difficulties defending their honor and dignity in court if their position runs counter to the position of the authorities."
" 'Although the outcome of the trial was expected, we will send our arguments in defense of the country's citizens to the chairpersons of the Minsk City and Supreme Courts,' Mr. Pogonyailo said. He stressed that he will appeal to the UN Commission on Human Rights if the national judicial system fail to uphold the rights of citizens."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 40; Thursday, May 11, 2000; 10:10 p.m.
Minsk Stirs Up National Hostility: Jewish Human
Rights Group
"In the view of IABJ, this kind of literature "stirs up national and confessional hostility and leads to catastrophic consequences for Belarus." The association also expressed incomprehension of the position which official Israel has taken and continues to receive Belarus high-ranking officials, and signs international agreements with Belarus. The Association also criticized the May 3 US Congress resolution on Belarus for having not included a concern over increasing ethnic and confessional tension in Belarus."
Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), Daily News Bulletin, 12 May 2000
Belarusian Jews Observe Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Day
"Belarusian Jews also plan to visit more than 100 sites that are associated with the Holocaust. About 800,000 Jews, including those brought from other parts of Europe, were slaughtered by the Nazis in Belarus between 1941 and 1944. Over the last few years, according to Mr. Dorn, the JRA has put more than 20 mass graves in proper order and plans to take care of eight more burial sites this year."
"Mr. Dorn stressed a need to replace 'evasive' Soviet-era inscriptions on Jewish memorials by ones commemorating 'not merely Soviet citizens but specifically Jews, who were slaughtered for their being Jews.' 'The truth will not prevail until we act,' he said. According to Mr. Dorn, the JRA has petitioned the authorities to restore Kollektornaya Street in Minsk to its original name of Yevreiskaya (Jewish). The street had been Yevreiskaya for more than two centuries until in 1934 the Soviet authorities renamed it Kollektornaya, apparently after some sewage collector."
United Civic Party Concerned Over Growth of Anti-Semitism in Belarus
"In its April 5 [2000] statement, the party wonders how extremist organizations like Russian National Unity (RNE) can exist in a country that suffered so much from the Nazis during World War II and how anti-Semitic literature can appear in Belarusian bookstores. 'RNE leaders admit they have supporters with all branches of government and even get financial assistance,' says the statement."
"The United Civic Party says that it will take an active part in creating an Anti-Fascist Committee in order to bring together 'all healthy anti-fascist forces,' to focus public attention in Belarus and abroad on the fascist threat and to prevent a "merger of the government with fascist organizations.' "
"Commenting on the book War According to Mean Laws at a news conference in Minsk on March 31 [2000], Mr. Basin said that its authors try to hold the Jewish people responsible for the crimes of some of its representatives."
" 'It never even crosses somebody's mind to blame the Georgians for Stalin's crimes or the Germans for Hitler's crimes. At the same time, the authors of the book try to accuse all the Jews for the crimes of a few of scoundrels, who played a negative role in history,' Mr. Basin said. The Pravoslavnaya Initsiativa (Orthodox Initiative) publishing house printed the War According to Mean Laws at the end of 1999."
"The leaders of the Belarusian Jewish community demand prosecution of the book authors and publishers, saying that it foments hate for the Jewish people."
"A court in Minsk has recently dismissed the Jewish association's suit against the publishers, saying that the book is based on documentary material."
"According to Mr. Basin, the book blames the 28,000 Belarusian Jews for pursuing a policy of genocide against the Slavic population of Belarus."
"Mr. Basin expressed regret that none of the Belarusian government leaders in the past 10 years had condemned manifestations of anti-Semitism and raised the issue at the state level."
" 'We are shaking off the illusions that the government is capable of defending us in the critical moments of life,' Mr. Basin said. 'If the government fails to punish the publishers of this libelous book, it will be responsible for all troubles that the book will cause to our people.' Leonid Levin, UBJAC president, expressed regret that no official had condemned the publication of the book. He said that the Jewish association will file a libel suit against the book publishers with superior courts."
Article: Collection of Memoirs of Former Minsk Ghetto Prisoners Comes Out
"This has been the third book about the Holocaust compiled by Raisa Chernoglazova, a historian. The book contains memoirs of former ghetto prisoners, many of whom managed to escape and joined underground fighters or the Red Army. The book features some previously unreleased documents, which the author found in archives in Belarus, Germany, Latvia, and Russia."
"The book launch party held earlier this week was attended by representatives of the Union of Belarusian Jewish Associations and Communities, former ghetto prisoners, and World War II veterans. They suggested that book be reissued and distributed to educational institutions and organizations."
"The forum is being organized by the International Humanities Institute, the Jewish University in Belarus, the American Joint Jewish Distribution Committee, and the Israeli Embassy. The conference will be attended by experts of Belarus, Canada, Israel, Lithuania, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States."
"They will discuss Jewish history, social life, culture and art in Central and Eastern Europe, Belarusian Jews' contacts with Jews in neighboring countries, as well as inter-ethnic relations in Belarus. About 40 reports will be made during the conference, which is scheduled to last till January 26."
"Thirty thousand copies of the book titled The War According to Mean Laws were published by the Pravoslavnaya Initsiativa (Orthodox Initiative) publishing house at the end of last year [1999] and are being sold through the Pravoslavnaya Kniga (Orthodox Book) book store. 'Under the cover of the Orthodox banner and widely using Aleksandr Lukashenko's name, the authors of the book sling mud at our people,' said Yury Dorn, JRA president. He said that the book was the first publication of its kind since the beginning of the Perestroika and Glasnost era."
"The JRA sent a copy of the book with its comments to the State Committee on the Press in early December. In early January, the committee informed the JRA that the book was sent to the Procurator General's Office, which is to consider instituting criminal proceedings."
"The JRA says that 20,000 copies of the book were sent to Russia suggesting that the order for the book came from the neighboring country."
"Mr. Dorn hopes that a fair legal assessment of the book will be made in the near future. But it is more important to give a lesson of the government's attitude toward manifestations of anti-Semitism rather than to punish those responsible, Mr. Dorn said."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 69; Thursday, January 20, 2000; 4:00 p.m.
"Architect Leonid Levin was 'put in by the KGB to lead the UBJPAC in order to merge the Jewish movement with the government and sanctify the Aleksandr Lukashenko regime with Jewish sympathy,' Mr. Khashchevatsky said."
"He accused Mr. Levin of negligence resulting in the loss of about $5 million for the Jewish community. Mr. Khashchevatsky said that the UBJPAC controlled all the Jewish communities in the country."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 12; Tuesday, January 4, 2000; 7:20 p.m.
" 'The authorities do not give us permission to put in order the graves of Nazi victims, do not even follow agreements reached in the area, and on the commemoration of Belarusian-born Jews well-known in the world,' Mr. Gutman told reporters in Minsk on January 4."
"He criticized the government for failing to return Jews property built for their money and open Jewish schools in the country. Mr. Gutman said that sacred buildings are used to house exhibitions of reptiles and shows and the building of a synagogue in Slonim built about 300 years ago currently houses a public toilet."
"Mr. Gutman attacked the Belarusian leader for failing to reply to the WABJ's request to build a monument to Nazi victims and underground fighters, which it sent on February 5, 1996. Mr. Gutman blamed the government for preventing the restoration of Jewish ethnic identity and failing to condemn arson attacks on synagogues and acts of vandalism."
"Mr. Gutman said that Belarusian Jews do not support the regime of Aleksandr Lukashenko because the number of Jews in the country has decreased from 112,000 to 28,000 in the last decade. Mr. Gutman's criticism of Mr. Lukashenko and his government appears to have been timed to coincide with the Belarusian leader's on-going visit to Israel."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 11; Tuesday, January 4, 2000; 6:20 p.m.
Article: Judaic Religious Association Demands Prosecution of Authors and Publishers of a Book That It Says Stirs Up Hate for Jewry
"The leaders of the Judaic Religious Association (JRA) in Belarus have demanded that the Procurator General's Office bring criminal charges against the authors and publishers of a book that they said foments hatred for the Jewish people."
Article: Filmmaker says the Union of Belarusian Jewish Public Associations and Communities Led by a KGB Protegee
"Yury Khashchevatsky, a Belarusian filmmaker, has told reporters in Minsk that the Union of Belarusian Jewish Public Associations and Communities (UBJPAC) is supported by the government and led by a KGB protegee."
"Yakov Gutman, chairman of the World Association of Belarusian Jewry (WABJ), has criticized the Belarusian authorities for hampering the WABJ's activities. The WABJ was founded in the state of New York, the United States, in 1993. It registered with the Belarusian Ministry of Justice in 1996, but the ministry refused to re-register the association in 1999."