Orsha officials decide on whether to sell or demolish 18th century buildings

Orsha officials seem to have abandoned the idea of demolishing two 18th century buildings in Minsk Street. “Narodnyya navіny Vіtsebska” has informed about it. “The European Radio for Belarus” has already informed about the local authorities’ plan of destroying the old buildings. “The executive committee” of those times was in one the buildings 200 years ago. At the same time two civil initiatives have collected citizens’ signatures to save the buildings.

Orsha historian Yuras Kotsik thinks that the uncertainty has remained:

“The issue has not been settled. Everything is still up in the air. The decision about the buildings has not been taken. Everything is being considered. The latest information is that the issue was discussed at a meeting of the city council and that it was said the Minsk Street, 19 should remain”.

The final decision is expected to be taken by the Mayor of Orsha who announced that the buildings were no longer architectural monuments protected by the law. The auction organized to sell the buildings failed – they had been planning to get 160 million BRB per each building.