We witness the largest act of vandalism in the history of independent Belarus. The authorities of Belarusian city Hrodna plan to demolish 40% of the city’s historical buildings that comprise its Old Town part. Hrodna is the last big city in Belarus where historical architectural ensemble was preserved. Historical centers in other Belarusian cities were largely vandalized or completely destroyed by Russian imperialist regime, communists or during World War II. Even the oldest residents do not remember how other old Belarusian cities once looked like. Brest, Minsk, Mahilyow drastically changed their architecture, having become standard Soviet cities, where Belarusian history is hidden behind Soviet-style concrete monoliths. Hrodna has been saved for us by a miracle.

The worst part of the situation with Hrodna is that this time it is not an invader or alien who do not care about Belarus. Today’s vandal is Belarusian state whose duty is to preserve national architectural monuments of which only few remain. Corrupted bureaucrats are willing to break the law and lull the conscience in order to get easy money made on high prices on real estate in old historical parts of Belarusian cities. The same situation happens in Vitsyebsk where blasphemer officials ordered the building of sewer system on the foundations of ancient churches. Minsk’s heritage is in ganger too—city authorities bargained with Arab investors the construction of hotel complex with tennis courts, saunas, and other entertainments on the foundation of the medieval monastery.

In the situation when the infringer is the state itself, civil society has to step forward to defend our heritage—all of us must act. Hrodna acropolis meets UNESCO requirements to be admitted to the list of world cultural heritage. If we let bureaucrats destroy Hrodna’s historical center, we will also become passive contributors to vandalism against not only our children but the entire world culture.

Belarus has a large territory by European scale. We have enough space to build offices and hotels without demolishing precious architectural monuments, don’t we? Architecture can serve to let Hrodna become a major tourist destination like Vilnius and Krakow and be pride and tourist industry center for Belarus. However, no tourist will come to visit a vandalized church, soulless offices or tasteless tiles in place of destroyed ancient masonry.

Save our history!

For Belarus! For our Hrodna!

Aleś Čajčyc

A large informative demonstration of civil initiative Initiative was conducted in Minsk under this slogan on June 10th. Around thirty activists, wearing T-shirts "Let's protect Old Hrodna!" gave away 5000 pamphlets to passing by Minskers. The pamphlets contained forms of a letter to the President, his administration, The House of Representatives and other branches of the State, demanding investigation of illegal "reconstruction" of old Grodno. As it becomes more and more evident, the entire historic district of one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Belarus, Grodno, is now under the threat of barbaric destruction by the officials, who decided to build on its place offices for Russian business and local entrepreneurs.

The leaflets about this disaster were distributed in Gorky Park, Chaliuskintsau Park, in Mitskiewicz and Janka Kupala Squares, near the department store "Belarus" and subway station "Pushkinskaya", as well as on Niamiha Street, Upper Town, Kamarouka, Pryvakzalny Garden on Niezalieznasci Avenue.

This demonstration was the beginning of a campaign by "The Initsiatsiva". This association will continue active work for protecting historic heritage of our cities, and, first of all, of the Royal City of Grodno.

We invite everyone to join us in this campaign! Each letter is important for saving our historical legacy. Only for the evening of June 10 th, our campaign was supported by 50+ people. You can write a letter too!

Reference: on May 24, our country lost another architectural monument – the steam mill in Grodno, built in 19th century. Prior to that, on the central plaza of the city, the "reconstructors" cut down 200 year old trees, after which new plants were put on their place. In nearest future, the government plans to start widening of the Old Bridge over the Neman River. As a result the entire traffic will flood the historical centre, its old, narrow streets. This is unacceptable not only from the point of logic, but also contradicts the General Plan of Hrodna 's development. The fine buildings of our past will be replaced by mentions for the officials and by the office buildings for Russian business.

May 4

Start of an old stone house demolition which was built in year 1770 by royal headman Antonius Tisengaus. Worker started to break the roof. Hrodna civic activists had made an inscription on the building wall but it was later painted over by soldiers. 

 
May 5

Young people learned that a number of old buildings were to be demolished during that week. A daily watch was organized near these buildings. However, upon civic activist's Ales' Zaleuski words, there was a lack of people: "There's no any actual activity. There are lots of people angry of authorities in internet. But when there's a real action of protest organized, this angry disappear somewhere".

 
May 6

Conference of deputies of United Democratic Forces' congress held. The participants passed several resolutions to:

• Prosecutor's office
• Mr. Sauchanka, the head of Regional Executive Committee
• State Control Committee

Creation of national committee of historic part of Hrodna protection.