The Honor Guard Company of the Minsk Military Commandant (; ) is an

honor guard A guard of honour ( GB), also honor guard ( US), also ceremonial guard, is a group of people, usually military in nature, appointed to receive or guard a head of state or other dignitaries, the fallen in war, or to attend at state ceremonials, ...

unit of the

Armed Forces of Belarus The Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus (, ) consist of the Ground Forces and the Air Force and Air Defence Forces, all under the command of the Republic of Belarus Ministry of Defence. Being a landlocked country, Belarus has no navy. In 20 ...

Brief descriptor

The company was formed on 22 January 1995 as a unit from the Minsk Air Defense and Rocket School and the Minsk Higher Military Command School. To become a member of the honor guard of

Belarus Belarus,, , ; alternatively and formerly known as Byelorussia (from Russian ). officially the Republic of Belarus,; rus, Республика Беларусь, Respublika Belarus. is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by ...

, one should be at least and have strong health features. It was later made into an independent unit on 17 February. It is one of the youngest units of its kind in the

Commonwealth of Independent States The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a regional intergovernmental organization in Eurasia. It was formed following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. It covers an area of and has an estimated population of 239,796,010. ...

. Daily training in the company lasts at least 6 hours. The company is made up of 144 military men, all of whom takes part in ceremonies in celebrations in Belarus and other countries, such as China,

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...

Qatar Qatar (, ; ar, قطر, Qaṭar ; local vernacular pronunciation: ), officially the State of Qatar,) is a country in Western Asia. It occupies the Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it ...

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...

, the

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia ( The Middle East). It is located at t ...

and

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

. Despite being part of the Minsk Commandant, it does not actively recruit from the Minsk area.

Duties

During a meeting two days after a Russian parade in which the unit participated, President

Alexander Lukashenko Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko (as transliterated from Russian; also transliterated from Belarusian as Alyaksand(a)r Ryhoravich Lukashenka;, ; rus, Александр Григорьевич Лукашенко, Aleksandr Grigoryevich Luk ...

described it as the "

crème de la crème Crème de la crème (French, ''literally'' 'cream of the cream') is an idiom meaning "the best of the best", "superlative", or "the very best". It may also refer to: * Creme de la Creme (band), a defunct German band * '' La Crème de la crème'' ...

of the Belarusian military". This is reflected in the numerous events the company is seen at such as wreath laying ceremonies and arrival ceremonies (for foreign

heads of state A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and ...

at the

Independence Palace The Independence Palace ( vi, Dinh Độc Lập), also publicly known as the Reunification Convention Hall ( vi, Hội trường Thống Nhất), is a landmark in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon), Vietnam. It was designed by archite ...

heads of government The head of government is the highest or the second-highest official in the executive branch of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presides over a cabinet, a ...

at the

Government House Government House is the name of many of the official residences of governors-general, governors and lieutenant-governors in the Commonwealth and the remaining colonies of the British Empire. The name is also used in some other countries. Gover ...

and military leaders at the Defence Ministry). The commander of the guard introduces the unit in the

Belarusian language Belarusian ( be, беларуская мова, biełaruskaja mova, link=no, ) is an East Slavic language. It is the native language of many Belarusians and one of the two official state languages in Belarus. Additionally, it is spoken in some p ...

during state visits, one of the only institutions to use the language. It has received a number of guests, including the Presidents of

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of t ...

Turkmenistan Turkmenistan ( or ; tk, Türkmenistan / Түркменистан, ) is a country located in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the sout ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in ...

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

, the

United States of America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

and

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and ...

, the Prime Ministers of

Hungary Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

as well as figures such as the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus'. During the

Minsk II The Minsk agreements were a series of international agreements which sought to end the Donbas war fought between armed Russian separatist groups and Armed Forces of Ukraine, with Russian regular forces playing a central part. The first, know ...

meetings in 2015, guardsmen did not leave the territory of the Palace of Independence more than 16 hours, periodically replacing each other at their posts. The annual Victory Day procession and Independence Day Parades on

Victors Avenue Victors Avenue ( be, Праспект Пераможцаў, russian: Проспект Победителей) is a public avenue in Minsk, Belarus. History Until 1980, it was called the Park Highway. For a long time, the northwest center of Mins ...

take place with the full participation of the company. The Defender of the Fatherland Day ceremony on Victory Square is also covered by the company. During the Independence Day parade, it is notable not only for providing ceremonial markers in front of the tribune, but also performing precision

exhibition drill Exhibition drill is a variant of drill that involves complex marching sequences which usually deviate from drill used in the course of ordinary parades. Teams performing exhibition drill are often affiliated with military units, but the scope of ...

since the 2002 parade on October Square. Since 2004, the unit performing this drill routine known as the "Combined Guard of Honour Company" ( be, Зводнай Роты Ганаровай Варты), consisting of full-time units personnel from the Armed Forces, the Border Guard Service, and the Internal Troops of the

Ministry of Internal Affairs An interior ministry (sometimes called a ministry of internal affairs or ministry of home affairs) is a government department that is responsible for internal affairs. Lists of current ministries of internal affairs Named "ministry" * Ministry ...

. It conducts a number of community organized events, having visited a local gymnasium in 2017 for example. It celebrated its silver jubilee in 2020, getting large congratulations from Defence Minister

Viktor Khrenin Viktor Gennadievich Khrenin ( be, Віктар Генадзевіч Хрэнін, russian: Виктор Геннадиевич Хренин) is a senior leader in the Belarusian Armed Forces and the current Minister of Defense. Lieutenant Genera ...

. In preparations for the 2020 Minsk Victory Day Parade and during the

COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus The COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 () caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (). The virus was confirmed to have spread to Belarus, when the first case ...

, members of the company was infected with

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickly ...

Foreign parades

In 2014, a

colour guard In military organizations, a colour guard (or color guard) is a detachment of soldiers assigned to the protection of regimental colours and the national flag. This duty is so prestigious that the military colour is generally carried by a young ...

took part in Bastille Day military parade in

marking the centennial of the outbreak of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. During the 2010 Caracas Independence Day parade in

Fort Tiuna Fuerte Tiuna or Fort Tiuna (more formally the Military Complex of Fort Tiuna) is the name given to one of the most recognized military installations in the city of Caracas and the South American and Caribbean country of Venezuela. There are import ...

, the company performed its own unique drill routine. It was also represented at the parade on Heroes' Avenue. Those who participated in the trip were presented with an engraved watch from President

. In 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2019, it sent a exhibition team to

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...

with the Exemplary Military Band to participate in the

Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festival and Tattoo The Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival is an annual military music event and military tattoo held in Moscow on Red Square. Participating in the festival are Russian and foreign military bands, folk groups, and honor guard units o ...

Red Square Red Square ( rus, Красная площадь, Krasnaya ploshchad', ˈkrasnəjə ˈploɕːətʲ) is one of the oldest and largest squares in Moscow, the capital of Russia. Owing to its historical significance and the adjacent historical build ...

. The members of the company have also taken part in the

2015 China Victory Day Parade The 2015 China Victory Day parade was a military parade held along Chang'an Avenue, Beijing, on 3 September 2015 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day of World War II. The commemoration was the first high-profile milita ...

. In 2020, it participated in the 75th anniversary

Moscow Victory Day Parade The Moscow Victory Day Parade ( rus, Парад Победы в Москве, r= Parad Pobedy v Moskve) refers to the annual military parade of the Russian Armed Forces on Moscow's Red Square on May 9 during the Victory Day celebrations. The ...

for the first time. During the parade, the banners of the Zheleznyak Partisan Detachment and three units who participated in the Minsk Offensive were carried by the company.

Organization

* Honor Guard of the

Minsk Minsk ( be, Мінск ; russian: Минск) is the capital and the largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach and the now subterranean Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the admi ...

Military Commandant ** Honor Guard of the Armed Forces ** Honor Guard of the Internal Troops ( Military Unit 3214) ** Honor Guard Company of the Border Troops Other honor guard units in the armed forces include the following: * Honor Guard of the Baranavichy Military Commandant * Honor Guard of the

Babruysk Babruysk, Babrujsk or Bobruisk ( be, Бабруйск , Łacinka: , rus, Бобруйск, Bobrujsk, bɐˈbruɪ̯s̪k, yi, באָברויסק ) is a city in the Mogilev Region of eastern Belarus on the Berezina River. , its population was 209 ...

Military * Honor Guard of the

Barysaw Barysaw ( be, Барысаў, ) or Borisov (russian: Борисов, ) is a city in Belarus near the Berezina River in the Minsk Region 74 km north-east from Minsk. Its population is around 145,000. History Barysaw is first mentioned in t ...

Military Commandant * Honor Guard of the

Brest Brest may refer to: Places *Brest, Belarus **Brest Region **Brest Airport **Brest Fortress * Brest, Kyustendil Province, Bulgaria * Břest, Czech Republic *Brest, France ** Arrondissement of Brest **Brest Bretagne Airport ** Château de Brest *Br ...

Military Commandant * Honor Guard of the Grodno Military Commandant

Unit Band

The Band of the Honor Guard Company of the Minsk Military Commandant was founded on 1 July 1995, as the Military Band of the Minsk Garrison's Office. Since 2018, the band has used chromatic fanfare trumpets in its ranks. For 21 years until 2016, the commander of the band was

Serguei Kostiuchenko Sergey Nikolaevich Kostiuchenko (Russian:Сергей Николаевич Костюченко) is a Belarusian military conductor. He is the former Chief Director of the Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, hold ...

. It works alongside the honor guard in taking part state visits and other ceremonies in Belarus. The signature march of the band is the ''Grenadiers March''. The band is under the Military Band Service of the Armed Forces. The following have served as directors of the Band of the Honor Guard: * Lieutenant Colonel Igor Khelbus (1993–1995) * Lieutenant Colonel

(1995–2005) * Major Aleksandr Kantsyal (2016–Present) The company and the band commonly work together on joint visits to different countries.

Company commanders

The following have commanded the company: *Konstantin Chernetsky (May 1995-February 1999) *Alexander Pogulyaylo (February 1999-February 2002) *Nikolai Kurash (February 2002-February 2004) *Captain Dmitry Karpovich (February 2004-May 2009) *Senior Lieutenant Pavel Guryanov (May 2009-?)

Gallery

File:Belarusian Honor Guards.jpg, A Wreath laying team provided by the honor guard. File:A Belarusian soldier provides an honor guard as 34 airmen from the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band march in the World War II Victory Day Parade in Minsk, Belarus.jpg, A member of the guard providing security during the

2015 Minsk Victory Day Parade The annual Victory Day Parade ( be, Парад Перамогі; russian: Парад Победы) on Victors Avenue in Minsk (the capital of Belarus) is a traditional military parade of the Armed Forces of Belarus that takes place every 5 year ...

. File:Putin in Belarus 2012 02.jpg, Russian President

Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who holds the office of president of Russia. Putin has served continuously as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime min ...

passing in front of the guard on Victory Square File:Putin in Belarus 2012 05.jpg, President Putin and President

inspecting the guard during the former's arrival ceremony at Minsk National Airport in 2012. File:Official welcoming ceremony for Ilham Aliyev was held in Belarus 05.jpg, The guard being inspected by President Ilham Aliyev during his visit to the Independence Palace, Minsk. File:В Минске состоялась встреча Министра обороны России с Президентом Белоруссии 03.jpg, The guard rendering honors to Russian defence minister Sergey Shoygu at the defence ministry headquarters. File:The Minister of State of Defence, Shri M.M. Pallam Raju inspecting the Guard of Honour, in Minsk, Belarus on October 25, 2009.jpg, Indian Minister of State for Defence M. M. Pallam Raju inspecting the guard in October 2009. File:Парад в Минске 2019 11.jpg, A member of the guard performing precision drill. File:Солдат Почетный караул Беларуси.jpg, A soldier of the company at the

. File:Belarusian Army Band 2009.jpeg, Band of the Honor Guard Company at the Ministry of Defence.

References

{{Reflist

External links

A news report on the battalion

The battalion in a Chinese V-day parade in 2015

A member of the company training

The soldiers of the battalion during the 2016 Minsk Independence Day Parade
1995 establishments in Belarus Military units and formations of Belarus Guards of honour Military units and formations established in 1995