Historian Gienadz Saganovich was dismissed from Academy of Sciences :: Charter'97 :: News

June 30, the scientific council of the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences excided the well-known researcher of the Belarusian Middle Ages, author of numerous books dedicated to the Great Princedom of Lithuania and Moscow Power, editor of the independent magazine “Belarusian historical overlook” Gienadz Saganovich. Previously he was discharged from his position.

Acting Director of the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences Aliaxandar Kavalenia refused to inform Radio Liberty about the official reason for the dismissal of Gienadz Saganovich.

Nevertheless, other sources attest Saganovich was discharged formally for the violation of the working discipline. The scientist went on a business trip to Krakow without the permission of the institute’s management, which was treated as a breach of discipline, although Saganovich paid for the trip himself since the institute had no funds for this.

Saganovich’s colleagues, however, claim the actual reason for the dismissal to be comprised within the firm scientific position of the historian. And they refer to the recent article written at request of the Russian magazine “Rodina” about the state of the contemporary Belarusian historiography, where, in particular, Gienadz Saganovich stressed that in the present academic historical works of the Belausian scientists it is not advisable to criticize the wars between the Great Princedom of Lithuania and Moscow Power of XVI-XVIII centuries.

Professor Zakhar Shybieka comments on the dismissal of his colleague Gienadz Saganovich to Radio Liberty:

“I consider him to be one of the most well-known and gifted professional historians of Belarus. If the Institute of History does not need such historians, then I do not know whom it needs. To my mind, this discharge will not affect Saganovich’s work. I think being a person of that level and gift, he can proceed with studies of history. Moreover, Gienadz writes history at the European level, and, unfortunately, he enjoys more popularity abroad than here, in Belarus.”

Since Gienadz Saganovic is not in Minsk at the moment we could not ascertain his reaction to these events.