All mixed up on Victory Day: Orthodox patriots with Stalin portraits near Minsk
On Victory Day thousands of Belarusians and guests from Russia, Ukraine and other countries gathered at the Stalin line museum complex near Minsk.
St. George ribbons which is often regarded as the symbol of separatism and Russia’s aggression in Donbas were handed out for free at the entrance to the museum. At the souvenir shop one could buy a lot of different things associated with Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin and other Soviet-era idols. In the morning a beautiful wreath was laid to the monument of Stalin.
The atmosphere was really festive. The children were looking forward to the beginning of the re-enaction of the battle for Berlin. When the kids saw reenactors in Soviet or Nazi military uniform, they asked parents which soldiers were “ours”.
The show was also observed by pro-Stalin communists who were holding Soviet flags and portraits of war veterans.
A group of little ‘fighters’ with St.George ribbon colours and Russian church flags depicting the face of Jesus Christ was the most proactive fans of re-enactors who represented Soviet troops. The children turned out to be members of the large family of Orthodox priest Andrey who serves and works in the House of Mercy in Minsk. When ‘the Soviet soldiers’ seized Berlin, the viewers hoisted the flag “For the Motherland, for Stalin!”
It is noteworthy that Josef Stalin and his cronies are responsible for executing and torturing priests in the Soviet Union.
