Ideologists Ban Poets From Opening Ceremony Of Magdalena Radziwill Monument

According to the official of Asipovichy district, the poets “chose the wrong grounds for performing”.

Chairman of the Republican Council of the Society for the Preservation of Historical and Cultural Monuments Anton Astapovich, on behalf of the organization, refused to participate in the opening ceremony of the monument to famous patron of the Belarusian art and culture Magdalena Radziwill.

The festive ceremony will take place on September 23 in the village of Dubrova, Asipovichy district.

The reason for that is the refusal for the poets Eduard Akulin and Leanid Dranko-Maysiuk, as well as singer Zmitser Bartosik, to attend the event, announced by head of the ideological department of Asipovichy municipal executive committee Iryna Ramanchuk.

According to the official, the poets “chose the wrong grounds for performing”.

Anton Astapovich, to whom these words were addressed to in a telephone conversation with the official, sent a letter demanding explanations, to Mahileu regional executive committee in the name of the head of the Chief Administration of ideological work, culture and youth affairs.

“The memorial sign in the former estate Zhornauka has been prepared by joint efforts. The Society for the Preservation of Historical and Cultural Monuments, the Asipovichy municipal executive committee, and local historians have made their input. They cleaned the territory, brought and mounted a bowlder, made a memorial plate, which will be placed on the bowlder on the eve of the opening ceremony,” — Astapovich writes in the letter, explaining that the festive event should also be held “on an equal footing, with the participation of our representatives and the representatives of partner organizations.”

As Anton Astapovich has received no reply, the representatives of the Society will not attend the opening ceremony of the memorial sign, Radio Liberty reports.