Another act of vandalism in Kurapaty burial ground

02.05.2008. Source: Charter`97.

A reproduction of Our Lady icon, installed on the chapel by artist Aliaksei Marachkin, was torn off. The act of vandalism happened at night 30 April – 1 May.

Aliaksei Marachkin told in the interview to RFE/RL that all acts of vandalism in Kurapaty are committed with the current authorities’ consent.

‘This is an act of vandalism, act of earthliness. It is committed if not with connivance of the authorities, then with their consent. Similar cases are never investigated. I’m on holiday in Barsuki village now. When I return, I’ll make not a reproduction, but draw it on wood board and affix it someway. I had a feeling that a time will come and it will happen again to my regret.’

It is not the first time when Our Lady icon on the chapel in Kurapaty has been damaged. Earlier, swastika was painted on the icon.

The chapel was installed near the big cross at the entrance to the Kurapaty forest. The icon of Our Lady of Innocently Killed is fixed there. It was installed on Dziady Day (day of commemoration of the dead) in 2003. In December 2005 unknown vandals drew a swastika on the icon. Other memorial signs in Kurapaty were violated, too.

A. Marachkin renewed the chapel on 5 October 2007.