Belarusians Demanding Renaming of Suvorau’s Military School :: Charter'97 :: News

A group of Belarusian citizens initiated renaming of the Suvorau’s Military School in Minsk into the Military School after Kastus Astrozhsky. Collection of signatures has been initiated for giving the name of the outstanding Belarusian military leader to the Military School.

The Initiators of renaming submitted the following appeal to Prime minister of Belarus Syargei Sydorsky and minister of defense of the country Leanid Maltsau:

“We, citizens of Belarus, are calling for renaming the Suvorau’s Military School in Minsk. For our people Suvorau is an invader and executor who bloodily suppressed the upraising of the Belarusian people for implementation of expansionists plans of the Russian empire. Commemoration of this person’s name means disgrace of the Belarusian nation, mocking at the memory of our ancestors.

In the Belarusian history there are enough military and public figures that future officers of the sovereign Belarus are to be proud of. We suggest to name the Military School after the state and military figure of our ancient state Kastus Astrozhsky (1460-1503) who won in 63 battles against the country’s enemies. They used to call him Hannibal II. Kastus Astrozhsky was outstanding among those fighting against the strangers. His serving the country is an example for the military people to follow. It is difficult to describe all his activities. For his life period he had built many churches, abbeys, hospitals and schools. There was not any other public figure who would have so beautifully and worthy devoted all his life to his Motherland”