Young forensic experts from the Vitebsk region visited the excavation site of a mass grave in Uruchye
![](https://dokshitsy.vitebsk-region.gov.by/images/storage/news/000091_293271.jpg)
Young people from the department of the State Committee for Forensic Expertise in the Vitebsk Region and its territorial bodies visited the excavation site of a mass grave in a forest near the Uruchye tract near Minsk.
Sergei Shikunets, Deputy Head of the Department for Supervision of the Investigation of Particularly Important Criminal Cases of the General Prosecutor's Office, spoke about the progress of the investigation into the criminal case of the genocide of the Belarusian people during the Great Patriotic War, as well as about the legal assessment of crimes against humanity.
Studying numerous archival materials and conducting conversations with local residents, we learned that in the Uruchye tract in 1942 - 1943, the extermination of people was put on stream: they were taken out of the city and shot. Currently, 11 graves have been found, 4 of them have been excavated. According to available data, the remains of more than 57 thousand citizens are buried there. Forensic experts from the State Committee for Forensic Expertise joined the study. After they carry out examinations, the remains of people are planned to be reburied near the Mass Grave monument on the 9th km of the Moscow Highway. The first grave discovered in 2021 was about 20 meters long and five meters deep. More than 8 thousand prisoners of war and civilians, including children, are buried here. Among the remains were found household items: dishes, combs, glasses, watches, shoes.