no hiding from history – justice for Holocaust victims, 80 years on

At The Together Plan, we believe that remembering the past with honesty and compassion is vital for building a just and tolerant future. To that end, we are proud to share news of a significant milestone in this mission – the Belarusian Prosecutor’s Office has posthumously convicted Semyon Serafimovich—a wartime collaborator responsible for unimaginable atrocities during World War II—of genocide.

Serafimovich’s crimes, long buried by time and silence, have finally been brought to light. As a commander of local police units in the Korelichi district under Nazi occupation, he orchestrated the murder of more than 4,000 civilians, including Jews and partisans. In the village of Turets, under the pretence of labour deportations, families were brutally executed and buried in mass graves. Local resident Pavel Maschonsky, who was a boy at the time, vividly recalls the terror of public hangings and the savage reprisals inflicted on innocent civilians.

After the war, Serafimovich escaped justice, fleeing to the United Kingdom under a false identity. Despite two trials in Britain, he evaded conviction and lived out his days, passing away in 1997. It has taken decades for justice to catch up with him.

The Together Plan is proud to have played a part in this historic investigation. Artur Livshyts, Chair of the Jewish Religious Union in Belarus and The Together Plan’s Country Director, assisted in securing critical foreign evidence that bolstered the case. Through Artur’s unique network of international contacts that The Together Plan has cultivated, key information from archives outside Belarus were made available to prosecutors—evidence that would have otherwise remained out of reach.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   A turning point in the investigation came with the inclusion of “Safe Haven,” a landmark book co-authored by Jon Silverman and Robert Sherwood. Jon Silverman, an Emeritus Professor of Media & Criminal Justice at the University of Bedfordshire, former BBC Home Affairs Correspondent, and an esteemed member of The Together Plan’s Advisory Panel, has long been a champion for historical justice. His work, alongside Robert Sherwood, highlighted the UK’s flawed attempts to prosecute Nazi collaborators and offered Belarusian authorities crucial insights into Serafimovich’s past.

Thanks to these collective efforts, the investigation not only secured a conviction but also uncovered more than 1,500 previously unknown victims. In every village where Serafimovich’s crimes were committed, memorials now stand—some grand, others humble—serving as solemn promises that these atrocities will not be forgotten.

Click here to watch a short film featured on Belarus TV this month featuring an interview with Jon Silverman.

This case represents a watershed moment for Belarus’ historical memory. The posthumous conviction of Serafimovich is not merely about one man; it is about the broader pursuit of truth, remembrance, and the necessity of confronting even the darkest chapters of history. The Belarus Prosecutors’ office is committed to investigating other collaborators and bringing them to justice – regardless of whether they are dead or alive.

At The Together Plan, we are honoured to support and drive such vital work. Our mission continues: helping communities reconnect with their heritage, giving voice to silenced histories, and building a future rooted in honesty, memory, and hope.