29-30 October 1937 Purge

[ionelv]

Today, I learned about the 29-30 October 1937 purge in Belarus. Poignant, was МИХАСЬ ЧАРОТ's Oath poem written on his prison wall (and reproduced in the euroradio.fm article linked earlier).

ПРЫСЯГА Я не чакаў; Я не гадаў, Бо жыў з адкрытаю душою, Что стрэне лютая бяда, Падружыць з допытам, З турмою. Прадажных здрайцаў лiхвяры Мяне зацiснулi за краты. Я прысягаю вам, сябры, Мае пали, Мае бары, — Кажу вам — я не вiноваты!

OATH I wasn't waiting. I didn't guess, lived with an open soul, a fierce disaster came, befriended the interrogation and prison. Corrupt moneylender traitor put me behind bars. I swear to you, buddies, my forests, my fields, I tell you, I'm not guilty!