Soviet Union 1991

(Third update)

"It's almost time and I guess this is my last question, President Yanayev."

Wallace had no choice but to deal with Yanayev. No matter what the topic, it would lead to the dark history of the United States, so that in the end he did not intend to follow common sense and was ready to find another way. Wallace turned over a page of manuscript, and his eyes finally focused on a question that was originally marked with a red cross.

"Before I ask this question, I want to tell a story first." Wallace closed the page. The interview time was about to end, and all the questions finally came to this moment. Wallace secretly made up his mind to never make another mistake, and to dig out the scandal about the leader of the Soviet Communist Party.

“In 1985, there was also a Soviet prisoner of war riot that shocked the world. At that time, twelve Soviet prisoners were sent to the Bode Epo Concentration Camp in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan, where the US Central Intelligence Agency and the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence Agency The base camp of the armed Afghan resistance movement. In the camp, the prisoners of war were treated inhumanely. When they were forced to a desperate situation, they took advantage of the camp guards' prayers in the evening of April 26 to quickly seize the weapons depot and the radio station. The Soviet 34th Air Force in Afghanistan was contacted, hoping that they would provide air rescue, but there was no response from the army. At the last moment, the leader of the Afghan resistance movement, Rabbani, accompanied by American and Pakistani advisers, came to the scene to persuade the prisoners to surrender. : 'We want to meet with the Soviet ambassador to Pakistan. 'But the Soviet ambassador refused to show up for various reasons. On April 27, the impatient Rabbani ordered an attack. The Soviet prisoners of war resisted desperately and eventually blew up the weapons depot and committed suicide. "

Yanayev, who originally thought he had a chance to win, slowly stopped smiling. Wallace cleverly captured Yanayev's changed expression and asked triumphantly, "Do you know about this? Does the Soviet government know about it?" "

If you say you choose not to know, then it is equivalent to lying in front of the people all over the world. If you say you know, then it is equivalent to admitting what the motherland did when the Soviet army finally abandoned its soldiers during the invasion of Afghanistan. What's even more frightening is that there is no way to avoid this question. No matter which answer Yanayev chooses, there will be a series of more difficult questions waiting for him.

"Know."

Yanayev took a deep breath, and his voice was almost hoarse when he said this heavy answer. He wanted to pick up the cup again, but found that it was already filled with water. Surkov, who had been observing the atmosphere at the scene, noticed that something was wrong, and told the photographer to be ready to cut off the video at any time. The photographer, who had been staring at Yanayev, had cold sweat on his palms.

He didn't edit such a major international event well, and he didn't know how serious the consequences would be.

"Then I want to ask why they ended their lives in such a heroic way instead of returning home safely." Wallace pointed to Yanayev without hesitation. To be honest, he was also a little surprised. , the Soviet Union tried its best to deny these things before, but Yanayev actually admitted the existence of prisoners of war.

Yanayev put down his cup, as if he had made the most difficult decision in his life, and said slowly, "Because at that time the Soviet official media called the behavior of these prisoners of war shameful, and the former leader Gorbachev also The statement at the press conference said that the Soviet Union is not at war with any country, so we have no prisoners of war. Of course, I think this concept is very irresponsible, even if they are not like the Red Army in the Patriotic War. Heroes are also rewarded with medals, but the motherland also has no responsibility to forget them.”

"When the Soviet troops hurriedly evacuated from Afghanistan, there were about 430 people recorded in the official book. But they ended up scattered on the battlefield in Afghanistan and could not go home because of various difficulties and no search and rescue operations. We tried to find them but could not find them.”

In 1991, there was no so-called Veterans Committee of the Russian Federation, and there were no spontaneous non-profit organizations to rescue the figures who had long been lost behind the desert and loess.

"President Yanayev, are you not afraid of being criticized by the people across the country when you say these words?" Yanayev's frankness surprised Wallace. According to the pretense of previous Soviet leaders about his deeds, Wallace Shi always thought that Yanayev would deliberately change the topic, so that he would have more opportunities to make a fuss.

But a Soviet leader who spoke frankly made him even more at a loss. It seems that all the small means used to attack politicians have failed in the face of Yanayev's aboveboardness.

"Socialist construction not only focuses on large-scale achievements, but also the fate of small people is also the focus of our concern. If the Soviet Union created the most powerful war machine in the world, but in the end could not even protect its own people, then that is the real It’s a ridiculous thing. I want to ask, will people still trust us at that time?”

No national leader had ever said such a thing, and Yanayev's candor won everyone's favor. Sometimes admitting a mistake can gain the trust of the public more than trying to hide it, but it is also more difficult because you have to endure more accusations and criticism.

"Thank you very much, Reporter Wallace. If you hadn't mentioned it deliberately, I'm afraid the entire Soviet Union would have forgotten this small group of people who should have gone home. We will set up a search and rescue team to help those who are still scattered across Afghanistan finally able to go home.”

Yanayev pointed at the camera and said with a smile, "Whether they can see it or not, I want to tell them here, tell their mothers and the motherland that they have not forgotten him."

After saying this, the set was silent. Wallace, who was the first to react, stood up from his seat and gave Yanaev a warm applause for his frankness and seriousness. Also applauding were those who were moved by Yanayev's speech.

Seeing that the interview had come to an end here, Surkov finally breathed a sigh of relief. The tension was no less than a political crisis.

"It seems that our president is still at ease in dealing with such things. I really don't know what kind of sensational effect this report will have if it is broadcast in the United States." Plekhanov poked Surkov's shoulder with his elbow, and looked at the American reporter's surrender with some pride.

Surkov squinted his eyes and watched this scene. Everyone thought that the president's perfect answer was his credit. But he never told the people around him that in fact, none of the president's answers were answered according to the standards he wrote.

"After all, he is the most unorthodox among all the top leaders." Surkov said.

"Very exciting, President Yanaev. I think the report about you is much more exciting than any other national leader I have interviewed before. If possible, I also hope to do my part through some government friends. There may be differences in ideology, but international humanitarian aid is not divided by ideology."

"Thank you, my friend Wallace. The Soviet people will not forget everything you have done." Yanaev and Wallace held hands tightly.

The image of the Soviet Union's brutal leader that the United States painstakingly created was shattered at this moment, and Yanaev's image in Wallace's mind suddenly became taller. And he had already prepared a draft in his mind, ready to let the Western world see a completely different image of the Soviet leader.

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