11 August 2017, 17:28
Rostov residents pay tribute to memory of people killed in Zmiyovskaya Balka
In Rostov-on-Don, about 450 people took part in the action "March of the Living" on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the largest execution of civilians in the Soviet Union territory occupied by fascists.
The action took place along the route, which in 1942 was followed by 27,000 people, mostly Jews, who were later shelled and killed. On their arms, participants of the march wore bandages with the yellow star of David during the Nazi occupation; Jews were obliged to wear those symbols.
For the first time, mourning events were held near the Zmiyovskaya Balka in Rostov in 2012. Then, about 500 people took part in the "March of the Living".
"The Zmiyovskaya Balka is a largest place for deliberate killing of the population in Russia. Not only Jews, but people of other nationalities were also killed at the place. We thank the regional authorities for paying tribute to the memory of the killed people," said Harry Koren, Israeli Ambassador to Russia as quoted by the "Interfax".
In December 2011, a memorial plaque at the Zmiyovskaya Balka dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust was replaced with a plaque bearing text on "peaceful Soviet citizens." Members of the local Jewish community filed a claim to the court in an attempt to return the previous text. In December 2013, the city authorities included a reference to the Jews in the text. The memorial plaque specifies the place of the largest burial place for Jews of World War II.
Governor Vasily Golubev, who also attended the event, called on the people not to disregard the historical truth.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
