Minsk: Night attack on protesters against construction at Stalin-era mass grave site (video)

The activists were attacked by masked men who had sticks and baseball bats.

The incident took place between 3.00 and 4.00 am not far from the construction site in Kurapaty, a burial place of Stalinist repression victims. The activists began a long-term action in defense of the memorial protesting against the construction of an office building started a few dozen meters from Kurapaty. According to them, it is fraudulent as the building permission was granted when the area was considered a protected zone.

Overnight into Thursday, about 10 men chanting ‘White race!’ attacked and beat those who were on the watch and turned their tent upside down. Journalist Ales Kirkevich got a head injury.

The activists reported the incident to the police. The police said that an administrative case would be opened against the bullies. However, it should be noted that the attack happened after the police who were on duty near the tent of volunteers, had unexpectedly left the place. Belarusians Internet users claim that the night ‘pacification’ might have been approved the Ministry of Internal Affairs, or even performed by undercover police academy cadets who often play provocateurs or spooks.

Plainclothes officers were seen there before.

“One can recognize them by their black jackets and same-type tapered toe boots,” Kirkevich says.

The construction works are in progress day and night. Clashes between builders and picketers started on Monday. It was reported that a criminal case was initiated against the defenders of Kurapaty, but later the police against him, but later the police refuted information.

Defending Kurapaty

Kurapaty, a place on the outskirts of Minsk, became a grave for over 200,000 people executed by Stalin’s secret police. Later the Communist party repeatedly attempted to shift the blame for shootings on Nazis. In 1994 the then U.S. President Bill Clinton visited Kurapaty. Interestingly, Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka has never come to honour the memory of the killed for his 22-year presidency.

• Clinton in Kurapaty, Nixon in Khatyn: US Presidents’ trips to Belarus
• Ukraine unlocks dark secrets of Soviet past. Belarusian KGB keeping silence

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