Preserving the Heritage of Our Ancestors

The Prosecutor's Office, together with specialists from the local history museum, conducted an inspection of compliance with legislation on the protection of historical and cultural heritage. During the inspection, the condition of architectural and archaeological monuments, mass graves, and military burials was examined, as well as the fulfillment of protective obligations by owners and proprietors.

There are 47 historical and cultural values located in the Beshenkovichi district, including 30 archaeological monuments (burial mounds, settlements, and hillforts), 8 architectural monuments, and 9 mass graves, which are living fragments of the history of the Belarusian people.

The inspection revealed that some historical and cultural heritage sites are not properly maintained, and the necessary measures to ensure their proper technical and sanitary condition are not fully implemented.

Specifically, during a visit to the former Nizgolovo estate complex, an architectural monument of the second half of the 19th century of the second category of nationally significant values, it was found that the ridge of the blacksmith's shop building (previously used as a dining room) was partially torn off, entrances to the attic and basement, as well as a window opening from the rear, were open, one of the entrance doors to the building was broken, other wooden structures needed painting, and a dump of household waste was organized at the rear of the building. The smokehouse building is not preserved: there is no roof, and the entrance and window openings are not closed, which contributes to its destruction by atmospheric precipitation; a garbage dump is organized inside. The unsightly appearance of these objects and the surrounding area significantly detracts from their perception as historical and cultural value. The owner of the blacksmith's shop and smokehouse buildings is OAO "Beshenkovichi Agroservice," which signed a corresponding protective obligation but did not take the necessary measures to maintain the historical and cultural value in proper sanitary and technical condition.

During the inspection of the burial mound of the early Middle Ages (10th-12th centuries), located in the village of Davydkovichi, Beshenkovichi district, which belongs to the 3rd category of historical and cultural values, it was found to be in an unsatisfactory condition: overgrown with grass, an unidentified person had set up a smokehouse on the burial mound, consisting of a metal container erected on the top of the mound and connected by a pipe to a firebox located at its base, which significantly spoils the aesthetic appearance and detracts from the perception of the historical and cultural value. In addition, pits and depressions in the mound indicate unauthorized excavations, which are prohibited by law. The owner of the burial mound is the Beshenkovichi Village Council, which signed a corresponding protective obligation, but measures to preserve and ensure the proper sanitary condition of the monument are not being taken.

During the inspection of the "stone-tracker" and the revered spring, located 0.8 km from the village of Ostrovno and being a monument of historical and cultural heritage of the 3rd category, it was revealed that the adjacent territory is not landscaped, overgrown with grass, the protective plaque is missing, and a metal cross has been installed by local residents to indicate the location of the stone and the spring. The listed violations and shortcomings in the maintenance of historical and cultural values hinder their aesthetic perception. The owner of the objects is SUP "Vyaderevo," which signed a corresponding protective obligation.