A Belsat TV journalist, under the guise of a volunteer, contacted a nun of the St Elisabeth Convent running a group, which assists the Russian military.
This is how the conversation turned out.
Transcript of the phone call
— Alexandra? Good afternoon. Yes, one more time. I would like to help the military. I am now, however, in Serbia, but I will be returning soon. What special requests might you have for today?
— Here in Belarus, we only buy what can be bought cheaper than in Russia, because our group… the founder of the group personally travels, and other people travel from Moscow too. The nun herself travels, she has her group. We are, as it were, connected to it as the Belarusian part. And when some requests come from the military, from hospitals, we distribute them, we take only what will be difficult to buy there. For example, we purchase hemostatic agents, tourniquets, and certain medications that are cheaper here, or their quality, is better – this happens – for hospitals or paramedics. Otherwise, if there is a request for electronic warfare equipment, like anti-drone umbrellas, or some kind of walkie-talkies, then, of course, it’s all bought from Moscow. We take a request, collect money for it, send it or transfer it, they buy and report back to us, they sort it out, and that’s how it happens.
— I understand. Then, bringing something from Serbia is not an option, because I won’t be able to take it across the border. For example, a drone.
— Of course, you won’t make it. Just think about what you can bring from there across the border. It seems to me that you won’t even be able to bring any medicine. We tried from Germany, we also have people in Germany helping. We tried to bring certain anti-burn medications from there, but it didn’t work. That is, you just cannot transport it.
— I understand. Then the only question that remains is that purely physically I cannot bring anything, I can only help with money.
— Will you live in Minsk? You can come to us to weave nets, we weave nets here.
— I can only drive up and drop something off. I won’t have much time. Maybe a car… I can help, essentially, only with money, right?
— You can do that. When you come here, we will talk to you. If you have a certain large sum, we can buy something on your behalf and personally transfer it. Buy either here or in Moscow, and transfer on your behalf. There, when all this is bought or when our volunteers buy it, they photograph it all or shoot a video and produce receipts, that’s all. Or the guys, depending on where it is sent to, receive and document it. You will receive a thank you personally. This is possible. It happened to us too.
From there, if you want, you can bring a car and drive it, but that’s a different question. I can find out which one is needed and let you know. Please bring a car from there, indeed.
— I understand. What about customs clearance?
— You should find out this yourself, because we tried to buy something in Belarus, and there was difficulty. If we bought in Belarus for someone, then, yes, indeed, there was difficulty with all sorts of documents, options, re-registration and something else. So we still do it in Moscow. Well, not in Moscow, but in Russia – we buy in any city ourselves, if there is such a need. The last time we had to buy a quad bike. They are always very needed there now. Indeed, you can buy a quad.
— But, as far as I know, there is still customs clearance. If I bring it, let’s say, with Serbian or any EU plates, then I’ll practically pay the same amount for customs clearance.
— You find out for yourself, I don’t know this. You must find out at the border how this is even possible. Is customs clearance available, how will you collect the vehicle, and what tax will you pay? You find out, whether it will be cheaper for you. Maybe it will be cheaper to buy in Russia. Well, if you do not buy, then, for example, others will buy on your behalf and report back to you. The last time we bought, they sent me all the documents, the purchase and sale agreement, everything was fair.
Find out for yourself there. Maybe now we need silent electric mopeds and motorcycles. Maybe you will have the opportunity to buy there, and there will be no such customs clearance. They should be silent, electric and approximately 50-60 km/h, something like this. If you have a Telegram, you can write me something, I will send you a video about what you need. Well, you won’t be able to bring a walkie-talkie, I don’t even know what else. Electric carts are needed, but how do you transport them? You might still be able to transport an electric motorcycle.
— OK then. Yes, I’ll keep in touch with you.
— Well, keep in touch with me, yes. Find out about electric motorcycles. Maybe there are no difficulties with it. It’s still not such a big thing.
— I understood you. The main thing is that without an internal combustion engine, is that the question?
— It must be electric and must be silent. There are motorcycles like that, they look like motorcycles, like those in the USSR, the very first motorcycles. Or like a big moped, that’s what they look like. The seat in the back is quite small, a thin person can sit there, and then you can also attach a trolley to this motorcycle. It must be silent.
— That’s it, I understand you. Okay, then I’ll keep in touch with you.
— Yes OK. If anything, maybe write me something in a Telegram so that I understand who it is and what it is about. Maybe there will be something else interesting – I’ll drop it there for you.
— OK, goodbye.
— Goodbye.
The convent does not officially admit its participation in raising funds for the Russian military. It sends corresponding letters to Catholic communities in Western Europe.
At the same time, convent employees make such confessions frequently. Mikalai Starazhenka, an employee of the Department for External Relations, confirmed the nuns’ participation in collecting funds. He runs a propaganda Telegram channel where he made this admission.
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