On June 17, in anticipation of the somber and momentous anniversary of the start of the Great Patriotic War, the grand opening of the traveling exhibition «Women – Victims of the Genocide of the Soviet People During the Great Patriotic War» took place at the Three Bayonets memorial complex in honor of the liberator soldiers, partisans, and underground fighters of the Vitebsk region. The exhibition aims to tell the story of the women whose courage forged our Great Victory. The project was initiated by the Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office, and its implementation was undertaken by the staff of Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov, with the active support of the city authorities.

The exhibition reveals the stories of female partisans, underground fighters, concentration camp prisoners, and mothers who raised heroic sons. Among them are well-known names, as well as the stories of women whose heroic deeds, until recently, remained in the shadows but are now forever etched in the annals of national memory. According to Vitebsk Region Prosecutor Andrei Nikolaevich Skurat, much of the data and materials were collected during the investigation into the genocide of the Belarusian population during the Great Patriotic War and the postwar period.

The idea of ​​preserving historical truth was supported by neighbors from the Russian Federation: archival materials and evidence for the exhibition were provided by the prosecutor's offices of the Pskov and Smolensk regions.

The rally was attended by representatives of the prosecutor's office, heads and employees of enterprises and organizations, and young people. The participants honored the memory of the victims with a minute of silence and laid flowers at the foot of the memorial.

The right to open the exhibition by cutting the ribbon was granted to the guests of honor and organizers:

• Viktor Glushin, Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee;
• Andrey Skurat, Prosecutor of the Vitebsk Region;
• To Alexander Spitsyn, Prosecutor of the Smolensk Region;
• To Andrey Moshkov, Prosecutor of the Pskov Region;
• To Valentina Bogatyreva, Rector of Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov.

«We had to support this idea, as the university and the Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office have enjoyed close and long-standing cooperation not only in training highly qualified legal professionals but also in ideological and educational activities. Through our joint efforts, we are raising true citizens – worthy heirs of the Great Victory, deeply aware of the importance of preserving historical memory» – noted Valentina Vasilyevna Bogatyreva, rector of the university.

The official part of the event was complemented by a performance by creative groups from VSU named after P.M. Masherov, who performed themed musical compositions. The event concluded with a tour of the exhibition.

For those unable to visit the exhibition in person, there is the opportunity to view it virtually.

ONLINE EXHIBITION «WOMEN – VICTIMS OF THE GENOCIDE OF THE SOVIET PEOPLE DURING THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR»

More photos are available in the VSU Media Center group on VKontakte.

©Department of Media Communications «VSU Media Center»