Hi Valera, we have been friends for more than twenty-eight years. I watched this emotional speech and tried several times to find some justification from your side for such a heroic act. A combat officer turned into an ordinary propagandist. I found it strange that you were silent when the plane landing in Ukraine happened. Not even the European Union, but Ukraine closed its airspace to our planes. Why was there no similar emotional speech? I didn't understand why you remained silent when refugees were being mistreated at the border, who could have created a humanitarian corridor. They weren't asking to go to Poland; they wanted to go to Germany, to Canada, and nothing prevented the Polish government from doing that. Moreover, I don't understand why a friendly state, a brotherly Slavic nation, closed its borders and ports to our people.

Causing damage to the economy of a friendly country that supplies electricity, I don't understand why you remained silent and did not express outrage for eight years when people were being killed in Donbas and Luhansk—13,000 dead. And these were not military personnel like in Afghanistan; these were children, women, and the elderly. Those who fought against Nazism from '41 to '45 cannot be compared to this. I want to take you back to '94 when we participated in field training competitions among battalion commanders and their deputies. I won't say now who won or lost; we both know that well. We became friends there, two pillars deeply devoted to our homeland and the service to our country. At the final stage of the competition, you suggested that the infantry and paratroopers move the tables. At that time, you said wonderful words: A paratrooper will never give up his striped shirt, beret, or military ID. You took off your striped shirt and gave it to me.

I was proud of this even when I was in command. I swam in Vardane in this striped shirt, which I only wore when I felt bad or heavy. Everyone around you, including me, helped you when you found yourself in a difficult situation. Even after your dismissal, I did everything possible for you to receive the military rank of Colonel in reserve. Was I really mistaken? You understand that earning cheap populism is very easy for those people to whom you addressed and said that this is not a staged video. Maybe someone believed it, but those are amateurs. When filming is done from multiple angles, and you motivate with figures that you couldn't possibly know about after being dismissed from the armed forces at 18, you didn't mention anything about the killed or what was happening there, except for what Western intelligence services could present to you. You called for conscience and honor, which you speak of, but you shouldn't have recalled your past merits. You should have started honestly. I have preserved the memory of this for a long time.

I work in Poland, and I have a business here. They cornered me and said, Either you perform, or your business is finished. That would have been honest. And now, Valera, I don't consider you my friend anymore. Everyone deserves a chance to make a mistake. You said a wonderful phrase: a person is given the right to make a serious choice only once in life, and we made that choice when we decided to go to military school. You went to Moscow, and I went to Omsk. I don't know which school you attended, but at least it wasn't Omsk, where they teach you not to fulfill your oath, to run from the army, and not to obey the demands of commanders and superiors. This is a game about why you are calling in your address. You know, I want to ask you one question when we meet: when were you real, back in '94 or now in '22? It seems to me that you, in your striped shirt, gave me the traditions of the airborne brotherhood, officer honor, and faith in the homeland.

The protection of our homeland, the fulfillment of our duty, the oath, and self-sacrifice for all of this. I want to respond that the Belarusian people and our president have never wanted war with the Ukrainian people. At least the head of state constantly speaks about this. The armed forces are carrying out their tasks to protect sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. They are not currently fighting in Ukraine, but this can be called a red line; it can be called whatever you want, but all of this is done for the sake of peace. For some reason, you do not talk about the United States, which has been pitting Slavs against each other and does everything for that purpose. For some reason, you label all progressive humanity that has risen up now and is providing humanitarian support, sending weapons and ammunition, as military aid. I find it strange that these progressive countries are considered to be on our western border, while what lies to the east of our border is not mentioned.

Progressive countries, not to mention Russia, but also China, Pakistan, India, Vietnam, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Armenia—I can name many. I don't want to use the phrase you've changed your mind, Valera, but isn't it true that with the years, seasoned pensioners with more experience, and I with less experience, all your nobility and desires were effective for the public back then, so that you could be seen and praised? And now you have simply betrayed all those ideas. I want to hear the answer to the question that I asked you.

Обращение генерал-майора Олега Белоконева

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