Forests have long been mentioned in folklore, usually told to be crawling with ghosts, witches, and other horrible things. Sometimes however art is inspired by life rather than the other way around.

A horrifying discovery was made in Kurapaty forest located just outside of Minsk. Rumors of disappearances and strange things happening in the forest had always circulated. Stories of relatives never seen again, one day a man by the name of Pazniack confirmed those stories.

Workers installing gas lines in the forest made a horrifying discovery. A mass grave. Soviet records estimate there are approximately 102,000 bodies buried in this forest. The people of Belarus began a memorial to those who perished here which stands not only for what was lost but for what needs to be gained.

Those who died in this forest died in a struggle which is still going on. They were fighting for freedom then just as Belorussians are fighting now. The soviet Union may have crumbled but the walls of oppression are still strong in Belarus, led by Lukashenko; Stalin incarnate.