MINSK, 22 June (BelTA - A solemn ceremony to unveil new memorial plaques and to commemorate the deputies of the BSSR Supreme Council of the first convocation, who died or went missing during the Great Patriotic War, was held in the lobby of the Oval Hall of the Government House in Minsk on 22 June, BelTA has learned.
“Today our country observes a special date - the Day of the National Remembrance of the Victims of the Great Patriotic War. On this day the country holds commemorative events with the participation of the president on the site of the first historic battle with the German invaders - the Brest Fortress. Many cities and villages of our country commemorate those who defended the Motherland at the cost of their lives. Among those were the deputies of the BSSR Supreme Council of the first convocation - our first Belarusian MPs. The first convocation worked for nine years - from 1938 to 1947. Elections were held twice: 273 deputies were elected on 26 June 1938, and after the reunification of Western Belarus with the BSSR, another 202 deputies were elected on 24 March 1940. The BSSR Supreme Council of the first convocation was headed by Nadezhda Grekova. She was the first and only female chairperson of the BSSR Supreme Council. A square in Minsk has been named in her honor," said Vladimir Andreichenko, Chairman of the House of Representatives.
During the war, the first convocation of the Supreme Soviet of the BSSR fought heroically on the front, they were active participants of the underground resistance movement, and worked on the home front. “Many were awarded orders and medals for personal courage and bravery. But not everyone survived to experience the joy of the Victory they fought for. Many died on the battlefield, were shot and tortured to death by the Nazi or went missing. As you know, the memory of 26 deputies of the BSSR Supreme Soviet who died during the Great Patriotic War was perpetuated in the lobby of the Oval Hall. In the run-up to the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the war, a large-scale research work was done with the support of the public, including young people. As a result, we managed to establish the names and other details of another 68 parliament members who died and went missing in those fiery years. And today, on the Day of the National Remembrance of the Victims of the Great Patriotic War, we are revealing the names of 94 MPs who died or went missing while fighting for the freedom and independence of our Motherland, for the victory over Nazism,” the speaker said.
Vladimir Andreichenko emphasized that they are the pride of the multi-ethnic Belarusian state, an example of perseverance, courage, striving for victory both on the battlefield and the home front, an example to follow for contemporaries and generations to come.
The speaker addressed the young people: “Be able to assume the responsibility for tomorrow. Love your homeland and keep the memory of the great historical past of our country and its glorious heroes. After all, the nation exists as long as the historical memory lives. The main lesson of the Great Patriotic War is that the key to victory was the unity of the people, their cohesion, selflessness, strength of will and spirit. The memory of this will help us to defend the peace, freedom and independence of the Belarusian people, to overcome all difficulties on the way to the sovereign development of Belarus,” he said.
The event featured a presentation of the book They Were the First (the book is dedicated to 94 MPs of the BSSR Supreme Council of the first convocation, who died or went missing during the Great Patriotic War) and also a thematic section of the international project Digital Star.
