(3rd Update)

"The time is almost up, and I think that's my last question, President Yanayev."

Wallace was already helpless with Yanayev, and no matter what the topic was, it could pull into the black history of the United States, so that in the end he did not intend to play his cards according to common sense, and was ready to find another way. Wallace flipped through a page of the manuscript and focused his eyes on a question that had been crossed in red.

"Before I ask this question, I want to tell a story." Wallace closed a page of script, the interview was drawing to a close, and all the questions finally converged on this moment. Wallace secretly made up his mind that he must not miss again, and he must dig up the scandal of the gaffe of the leader of the CPSU.

"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 Bedaepo concentration camp in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province, which was the stronghold of the CIA and Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence to arm the Afghan resistance. In the camp, the prisoners of war were subjected to inhumane treatment and were cornered, and on the evening of 26 April, they took advantage of the prayers of the camp guards to quickly seize the weapons depot and the radio station. The POWs tried to contact the Soviet 34th Air Force in Afghanistan by radio, hoping that they would provide air rescue, but there was no response. At the last moment, Rabbani, the leader of the Afghan resistance, accompanied by advisers from the United States and Pakistan, went to the scene to persuade him to surrender. The POWs offered the following conditions: 'We will meet with the Soviet ambassador to Pakistan.' But the Soviet ambassador refused to show up for various reasons. On 27 April, an impatient Rabbani ordered an attack, and the Soviet POWs put up desperate resistance, eventually detonating the arsenal and committing suicide. ”

Yanayev, who originally thought that the victory was in hand, slowly restrained his smile, Wallace delicately captured Yanayev's changed expression, and asked triumphantly, "Do you know about this?" Did the Soviet government know? ”

To say that the choice is not to know is to lie in front of the people of the world. If you know, then it is equivalent to admitting what the Soviet army did in the previous invasion of Afghanistan, the motherland finally abandoned the soldiers. What's even more terrifying is that there is no way to avoid this question, and no matter which answer Yanayev chooses, there is a series of more difficult questions waiting for him.

"Yes."

Yanayev took a deep breath, almost hoarse when he uttered this heavy answer, and he tried to pick up the cup again, only to find that there was already water inside. Surkov, who had been observing the atmosphere, sensed that something was not quite right, and he instructed the photographer to be ready to cut off the footage at any time. And the photographer's palms, whose eyes had been staring at Yanayev, were already breaking out in a cold sweat.

He did not cut this major international event well, and he did not know what serious the consequences would be.

"Then I would like to ask why, they ended their lives in such a heroic way, instead of returning to their homes safely." Wallace did not hesitate to point to Yanayev, and to be honest, he was a little surprised that the Soviet Union had vigorously denied these things, and Yanayev would have cleanly admitted the existence of prisoners of war.

Yanayev put down his glass, as if he had made the most difficult decision in his life, and said slowly, "Because at that time, the official media of the Soviet Union called the behavior of these prisoners of war shameful, and the former leader Gorbachev also said at a press conference that the Soviet Union is not at war with any country at present, so we have no prisoners of war." Of course, I think this notion is very irresponsible. Those soldiers are also human beings, and even if they are not awarded medals like the heroes of the Red Army of the Great Patriotic War, the Motherland is equally not responsible for forgetting them. ”

"When Soviet troops were hastily withdrawn from Afghanistan, there were about 430 people recorded in the official register. But they ended up scattered on the battlefield in Afghanistan and could not return home, because of all kinds of difficulties in the end, the search and rescue operation was not carried out, and they could not be found. ”

In 1991 there was no so-called Council of Veterans of the Russian Federation, nor did there be spontaneous non-profit organizations to rescue the figures that had long been lost behind the desert and loess.

"President Yanayev, are you not afraid of being blamed by the masses of the whole country when you say these words?" Wallace's frankness surprised Wallace a little, and according to the pretense of his deeds by successive Soviet leaders, Wallace always thought that Yanayev would deliberately divert the topic, so that he would have more opportunities to make a fuss.

But a frank-talking Soviet leader made him a little overwhelmed. It was as if all the previous small tactics against politicians had failed in the face of Yanayev's uprightness.

"Socialist construction is not only focused on the achievements of the big aspects, but also the fate of the small people is also the focus of our concern. It would be ridiculous to say that the Soviet Union built the most powerful war machine in the world, and in the end could not even protect its own people. I want to ask, will the people still trust us then? ”

Never before has a national leader said such a thing, and Yanayev's frankness won the favor of everyone. Sometimes admitting mistakes is more important to gain the trust of the masses than trying to cover them up, but it is also more difficult because you have to endure more accusations and criticism.

"Thank you very much, reporter Wallace. If it weren't for your deliberate mention, I'm afraid the entire Soviet Union would have forgotten about this handful of people who were supposed to go home. We will set up search and rescue teams so that those who are still scattered across Afghanistan can finally return home. ”

Yanayev pointed at the camera, smiled and said, "Whether you can see it or not, I want to tell them here, tell their mother, and the motherland, that they have not forgotten him." ”

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

Seeing that the interview had been marked with an end sign, Surkov finally breathed a sigh of relief, and the tension was no less than a political crisis.

"It seems that our president is still comfortable with this kind of thing, and 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 watched with some smug the American reporter's admission of defeat.

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

"After all, he is also the most deviant of all the top leaders." Surkov said.

"Wonderful, President Yanayev. I think your reporting is much more exciting than any previous interview with a national leader. If I can, I hope to do my part through some government friends. There may be differences in ideology, but there is no distinction between ideologies in international humanitarian assistance. ”

"Thank you, my Wallace friend. The Soviet people will not forget everything you have done. Yanayev and Wallace's hands clasped together,

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