"Remember us, Russia"

On the anniversary of the beginning of the war in Chechnya, an evening of memory of the fallen in the fight against terrorism was held. He became the last

"Time over us is not powerful!" - with a sad smile on a wrinkled face exclaims a war veteran, firmly shaking the hand of his colleague. On both there is a dark green form, honorary awards flaunt on the chest. Accompanied by a wind orchestra, getting acquainted, they slowly rise to the hall of the Moscow Provincial Theater.

On December 11, on the anniversary of the first Chechen campaign, the All -Russian evening of memory of those who fell in the fight against terrorism “Remember us, Russia” was held here. Passed for the 22nd time-for the last. The Fund for Rocada War Veterans, which annually organizes this event, is closed - there is no money.

In addition to him, unfortunately, there is no one else to honor the memory of those killed during the fighting in Chechnya.

- 25 years ago, a war began, the flame of which stirred the entire North Caucasus. It does not fade to this day. For tens of thousands of lives, this war claimed, and the account of its victims is not yet closed, ”Colonel General Sergei Istrakov said in an introductory speech. -Recall those who stormed Grozny, who, sacrificing themselves, saved hostages in Budennovsk, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Beslan. Recall those who solved the most complex and responsible problems in Nord-Ost. Let us recall those who were tortured in captivity, who died from wounds in hospitals. Recall those who are not with us today.

Black and white portraits of the dead military hang on the small stage of the theater. They all look not even 30 years old. Very young. In the center is a large screen, which shows the terrible frames of the war in Chechnya.

Among the trees there are soldiers who fall under fire. One of them receives a severe wound and begins to pray for help. His terrible scream at the full power of the speakers is heard throughout the hall. At the other frame - tired women take turns making their way to the window for giving products and grab soap and loaf of black bread. Then they show the dark -haired boy in a hospital bed - the stumps of his legs are wrapped in bloodied bandages.

The host of the event recalls how these videos were mined:

- In these frames there is fear and an irresistible feeling of shame, disagreement, pain. From the first seconds, military correspondents are faced with this.

Journalists who worked in hot spots who missed the war through themselves and became part of it, hoped to break through the wall of indifference. They are trying to force the heart muscle for those who have long and safely atrophied.

Among such caring people was a film director, founder of the Rocada Foundation Sergey Govorukhin. As a military correspondent, he participated in combat operations in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia and Chechnya. In February 1995, during the filming in Grozny, he fell under the shelling of Chechen militants and received a gunshot wound. Govorukhin was amputated. Three years after this incident, he will create a charity fund, which will help the victims in armed conflicts. The deputy chairman "Rocades", Colonel Vitaly Bencharsky recalls acquaintance with the director as follows:

- He came to make the film "Damned and forgotten." A familiar journalist calls me and invites me to chat. At that time, strictly forbidden to bring alcohol. And I had with me a bottle of vodka and wine. I brought them, poured them all a little. Then we parted. On this, our, very banal, acquaintance ended. When the film was released, I did not have time to watch it on TV. He called Sergey. At a meeting, he gave me five cassettes and said: “I remember you. Fights were going on, I wanted to drink, but there was nowhere! ”

Not only journalists and soldiers, but also their mothers, recalled on the anniversary of the First Chechen War. Women who saved their children from captivity of militants who were looking for the bodies of those killed under bullets and bombs. Some of their sons still have not found and got used to the idea that they had missed.

The recording from the old evening of memory turned on on the screen. The mothers were presented with honorary awards for courage and heroism. Both halls - on the screen and in real life - applauded during the ceremony. After that, the audience got up.

- They say that the death of one person is a tragedy, and the death of thousands is statistics. No, we cannot put up with this. For each surname - live pain,

- Says the host to the photos of the dead military, replacing on the screen. - Let the names of the fallen are illuminated by the light of our love and sorrow. They are always with us, in our thoughts, deeds, houses, smiles of children. We bow your heads before the bright memory of the fathers, mothers, sons, husbands, brothers, daughters, sisters, comrades, friends, relatives.

The evening ended with a minute of silence.