“More than 100 representatives of the Belarusian intelligentsia were executed on this night,” that’s how the articles in many publications began on that day.But there were no such articles in October 1937. There were no obituaries, either. The Soviet press was preparing Soviet people for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the USSR and for the elections to the Supreme Soviet.Even on the day when 22 Belarusian writers were executed, the press did not change the agenda. “For the homeland to prosper peacefully and calmly, we are voting for Marshal Klim,” read the festive pre-election poems printed “LiM”.Instead of obituaries, there was a list of slogans to glorify the Great October Revolution properly.
Source: Night of executed poets: Lessons of 1937 that Belarus has not learned | euroradio.fm
