Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council BPF Leanid Autuchou received a reply to his appeal to the Governor Alexander Kosinets for the protection of historical and cultural heritage in the town of Smolyany near Orsha. According to the reply signed by the deputy chairman of the executive committee Vladimir Terentyeva three requests set out in circulation, the regional authorities have decided to meet just one.

The party leader addressed to the chairman of the executive committee after no archaeological research guide agricultural enterprise "Smolyany" ordered to demolish the former building of the XVIII century Dominican monastery. in a protected area of the cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Soon, thanks to the protests of local historians and social activists final destruction of the building was stopped. However, there remains a risk that the case for the destruction of historical and cultural value will be continued - now hands "black diggers".

According to Leanid Autuchou to prevent further destruction of the historical heritage, the authorities need to urgently intervene in the situation. His appeal to the Executive Committee contained a three requirements:
1. conduct archaeological survey of the Dominican monastery complex in the resin with the obligatory participation of specialists of the Academy of Sciences of Belarus;
2. immediately adopt a program for the protection and restoration of monuments in Smolyan;
3. develop a full-fledged program to develop into resin tourist-excursion center Orsha district.

Of these three requirements were met, and that was only formally, only the first: experts of the Academy of Sciences really went to the scene and gave his opinion. However, hardly "the study of pits and soil" can be considered a full archaeological investigation of the monastery complex, which had been requested BPF.

The conclusion reached by scientists, does not inspire optimism: "The study of soil pits and the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the cultural layer of archaeological finds were found. In the basement of the building of the former agricultural workshops fixed single copies of bricks, which can be dated XVIII century. It was also noted that the architectural features of the building lost in fires, reorganizations and misuse," - said in a letter received from the Executive Committee.

As for the other requirements of Leanid Autuchou, they are, in fact, were completely ignored. Thus, a special program to create a tourist-excursion Resin center no one seems to develop is going. After all, according to officials, it is enough that "tawn of Smolyany is part of the Orsha-Kopys cultural and tourist area centered on the town of Orsha."

Also, apparently, in the near future will not appear and the program for the protection and restoration of all, and not of a single monument in the resin. Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee Leanid Autuchou reported that in 2011 approved a program for the conservation of historical and cultural heritage of Orsha district, 2011-2015. Referred to in the program as places are in the resin, the official did not disclose.

But "the castle ruins White Kovel included in the state program "Castles of Belarus", - wrote the representative of the authorities in response to the appeal of the party activists. This is certainly good, but the lock - is not only a landmark in the village, which, according to Leanid Autuchou, could become a tourist "Mecca" of Eastern Belarus. There are more in the resin and said the Dominican monastery, the building of which have only 20%, and the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, there is also St Alexis Church of the XIX century, which is also in a state of neglect. Only now the fate of these historical and cultural values, it seems a little worried officials of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee.

Photo: orsha.eu