Issue of demolition of former building of National Library to be discussed in Minsk

A round-table discussion of the ways of protecting the former building of the National Library the authorities are planning to demolish will take place in the office of BNF on July 10 at 3 p.m. The head of the Belarusian voluntary association for protection of historic and cultural monuments Anton Astapovich informed ERB about it. Let us remind you that it became known that the former building of the National Library situated opposite the President’s Administration would be demolished. At first it was informed that an administrative building belonging to the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court would be built in that place. Then the STV channel reported that the Presidential Library would be constructed there.

Astapovіch says that the Presidential Library is really planned to be built in the place of the former “Belarusian” reading hall of the National Library and that the mentioned authorities are going “to be accommodated” opposite the President’s Administration.

The head of the Belarusian voluntary association for protection of historic and cultural monuments refers to a copy of the President’s instruction dated June 3, 2008 he happened to get.

This is what Anton Astapovich thinks about the authorities actions: 

"They violate 15 articles of the law “On protection of the cultural heritage of the Republic of Belarus”. The decision itself is illegal. Moreover, the National Library is a wonderful example of constructionism in Minsk”. 

Photo by - nn.by