Four historical buildings in Mahilyow stripped of their heritage status

Four buildings dating from the beginning of the 20th century on Mahilyow’s Lazarenka Street have been stripped of their national heritage status by the Belarusian culture ministry.

The ministry’s scientific council agreed with the arguments stated by the Mahilyow Regional Executive Committee, Ala Halushka, head of the city government’s ideology department, said Wednesday, speaking at a meeting of the Mahilyow City Executive Committee.

The organizations that have been granted ownership rights to those buildings can now promptly settle all issues relating to the management of the structures, said Uladzimir Tsumaraw, head of the City Executive Committee. “They should immediately begin to renovate the buildings or build additional projects,” he added.

If necessary, similar proposals for revising heritage status should be put forward with regard to other structures, Mr. Tsumaraw suggested.

“If a building cannot be restored and conserved as a culturally and historically valuable object, you should submit a proposal as was done with regard to the buildings on Lazarenka Street,” he said.

“They aim to destroy everything connected with the history of the city,” Uladzimir Krawchanka, chairman of the local chapter of the Belarusian Voluntary Society for Historical and Cultural Heritage Protection, commented to BelaPAN. “Authorities have demolished more since World War II than was destroyed during the war, and now intend to destroy the few remaining buildings.”