Gennady Onishchenko is an epidemiologist, Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation. As a result of his service, he had to visit combat zones more than once.
During the first Chechen campaign there was an outbreak of polio. Gennady Grigoryevich delivered medicines and equipment to the republic, took samples of water and soil. And one day he was tracked down and kidnapped by militants.
He and the chauffeur were riding the oise from Grozny to Mozdok through the Pervomaysky pass. In the middle of the day, the sun is shining, suddenly the “oisik” overtakes the crimson “eight” with darkened windows and becomes across the road. Militants come out and shoot singles up. They and the driver are transplanted into the back seat of the ouazik, themselves — forward and driven.
“Before the trip, I was always told: take the machine, take it.” I said, why? I can’t and won’t shoot. This saved me, if I had at least something found from the shooter, then all … — recalls Gennady Grigorievich.
While driving, Onishchenko realized that the only chance to survive is to try to talk to the militants: “One thought: now something is happening to me – my wife, three children are small, who needs them in the 95th year in Russia?” And not just fear, just cold calm.
Surprisingly, the militants were able to talk and explain that Russian doctors help not only “their own”, but also the Chechen people. The tension subsided a little.
From the conversation, Gennady Grigorievich realized that those who kidnapped him were only executors, and the customer of the kidnapping should come after him later, to the designated place in the forest.
We’re here, waiting. It’s already evening, all hungry. Gennady Grigoryevich recalled that he had a watermelon and sausage in his car in the trunk, colleagues shared, knowing that he was often on the road. The doctor offered the militants to have dinner: “And such an idyll as Monet’s in Breakfast on the Grass, and we have a dinner on the grass: militants with machine guns and me with my driver Kolya – we are sitting, eating, a human conversation has already started.”
Death that evening was avoided: the customer for some reason did not come. At night, the militants took all their belongings up to the computer on which Gennady Grigorievich wrote his dissertation and which he took with him everywhere. Then they took them with the driver to a remote area and released.
Gennady Grigorievich recalls: “They threw us out, then suddenly the car stops.” I think they’re going to shoot you in the back, and this driver, this guy, is like, ‘Do you need a computer?’ I say, «Listen, if you can, give.» We have already become such “friends.”
Now, recalling that terrible episode, Gennady Grigorievich says about his kidnappers: “And I do not condemn them.” They were doing the job as they understood it at the time. They let me go, but they could have shot me: well, the master didn’t come, let’s slap – and that’s all. God has mercy on me.
Daria Makushkina
Holy Land Charitable Foundation
Investment in the Soul!
Orthodox stories from life
