March 22, 2024, the day on which the world remembers one of the most terrible pages in the history of the Great Patriotic War – death in the fire of the village of Khatyn. The memory of them and all the villages that have become symbols of incredible suffering and unbridled wickedness serves as a reminder that the world must strive for justice and an end to cruelty in all its forms. This tragic event is not only a reminder of past pain and loss, but also a call for unity and peace between nations.
As part of its activities to promote dialogue and strengthen cooperation at the international level, the International Public Organization “Mutual Understanding” coordinated the process of one-time assistance to the surviving residents of burned Belarusian villages. These actions were made possible thanks to financial support and cooperation with the Charitable Association of Contacts with the Countries of the Former Soviet Union “KONTAKTE-CONTACTS” (Germany), which seeks to draw attention to victims of Nazism who previously did not receive compensation payments from the German government. About 4,000 Belarusians received financial humanitarian assistance, established contacts and correspondence by mail, which became a sign of solidarity and desire for reconciliation and understanding between peoples.
The Khatyn Memorial Complex, a tragic reminder of the horrors of war, continues to fulfill its role as the largest place of remembrance and upholding the struggle for freedom, dignity and the right to life of every person. We see our task as ensuring that events like the Khatyn tragedy are never forgotten and that the lessons of the past inform the construction of a future without violence and the repetition of such terrible mistakes.
