Military Cemetery is a

cemetery A cemetery, burial ground, gravesite or graveyard is a place where the remains of dead people are buried or otherwise interred. The word ''cemetery'' (from Greek , "sleeping place") implies that the land is specifically designated as a buri ...

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 ...

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 R ...

History

The Military Cemetery was opened and consecrated in 1895 when a nearby older cemetery for military personnel was closed for further interments. In 1898, an Orthodox church was built in the cemetery - conceived as a monument to the soldiers who gave their lives in the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878. Inside the church there are plaques with the names of 118 Belarusians who perished recapturing the Bulgarian city of Pleven from the Turks. in the

interwar period In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days), the end of the World War I, First World War to the beginning of the World War II, Second World War. The in ...

the cemetery became the burial place of prominent statesmen, soldiers, scientists and people of creative professions. Soviet authorities closed the church before World War II but during the German occupation services were resumed. After World War II the city authorities considered converting the church into a coffin workshop but the plans did not materialise and the church remained one of the few functioning places of worship in Soviet Minsk.

Controversies

In 2018, improvements were announced by the city authorities and municipal workers began dismantling many fences and monuments, which were replaced by cheap concrete "headrests". Historians, restorers, and relatives of the buried argued that "the improvement is reminiscent of demolition," and called for the protection of the cemetery. The public initiative "Military Cemetery" was created, the participants of which improved the burials. After court proceedings brought by the descendants of the buried, the destruction of old graves stopped. However, the workers managed to "beautify" half of the cemetery and destroyed about 300 old tombstones.

Notable interments

Alexander Chervyakov Alexander Grigoryevich Chervyakov (Aliaksandr Charviakou, be, Аляксандр Рыгоравіч Чарвякоў, ''Aliaksandr Ryhoravič Čarviakoŭ'' russian: Александр Григорьевич Червяков, ''Aleksandr Grigor'ev ...

(1892 - 1937), politician and revolutionary *

Kuźma Čorny Mikałaj Karłavič Ramanoŭski ( Belarusian:Мікалай Карлавіч Раманоўскі, russian: Николай Карлович Романо́вский), also known by the pseudonym Kuźma Čorny ( Belarusian:Кузьма Чорны, ...

(1900 - 1944), Belarusian poet, writer and dramatist *

Usievalad Ihnatoŭski Usievalad Ihnatoŭski (, russian: Все́волод Мака́рович Игнато́вский; 19 April 1881 — 4 February 1931) was a Belarusian politician, scholar and the first president of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. ...

(1881 - 1931), Belarusian politician, scholar and the first president of the

National Academy of Sciences of Belarus The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) ( be, Нацыянальная акадэмія навук Беларусі, russian: Национальная академия наук Беларуси, НАН Беларуси, НАНБ) is ...

Jazep Jucho Jazep Jucho (19 March 1921 - 29 July 2004; also known as Iosif Jucho, ) was a prominent Belarus, Belarusian lawyer, historian and writer and a leading Belarusian authority on the laws of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Early years and career Ju ...

(1921 - 2004), Belarusian lawyer, historian and writer, leading Belarusian authority on the laws of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. *

Mikhas Klimkovich Michaś Klimkovič ( be, Міхась Клімковіч; russian: Михаил Николаевич Климкович; 20 November 1899 – 5 November 1954) was a Belarusian poet, librettist, and author. He wrote the lyrics to the Anthem of the ...

(1899 – 1954), Belarusian poet and librettist *

Yakub Kolas Yakub Kolas (also Jakub Kołas, be, Яку́б Ко́лас, – August 13, 1956), real name Kanstantsin Mikhailovich Mitskievich (Канстанці́н Міха́йлавіч Міцке́віч, ) was a Belarusian writer, dramatist, poet a ...

(1882 – 1956), Belarusian writer *

Yanka Kupala Yanka Kupala, also spelled Janka Kupała ( be, Янка Купала; – 28 June 1942), was the pen name of Ivan Daminikavič Lutsevič (), a Belarusian poet and writer. Biography Early life Kupala was born on July 7, 1882, in Viazynka, ...

(1882 – 1942), Belarusian poet and writer *

Niescier Sakałoŭski Nieścier Sakałoŭski ( be, Несьцер Сакалоўскі; russian: Нестор Соколовский; 9 November 1902 – 13 November 1950) was a Soviet composer. Career Sakałoŭski composed the music for the Byelorussian SSR's regi ...

(1902-1950), Belarusian composer * Valancin Taǔlaj (1914 - 1947), Belarusian poet * Paŭluk Trus (1904 - 1929), Belarusian poet
Ruth Waller
(1921-1946), member of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration Mission in post-war Belarus who died after saving drowning Belarusian children.
(in Belarusian)

References

External links

* Cemeteries in Belarus Buildings and structures in Minsk Military cemeteries {{Europe-cemetery-stub