Press releases

MINSK, 6 July (BelTA) – Inclusion of Independence Avenue (Prospekt Nezavisimosti) in Minsk in Belarus’ UNESCO tentative list is due in September, BelTA learned from member of the National Commission for UNESCO, head of the Cultural Heritage and Modernity Foundation Alla Stashkevich.

In her words, the recent session of the interdisciplinary working group that included the National Commission for UNESCO adopted a roadmap to prepare the Belarusian part of the joint transnational property “Socialist Postwar Architecture in Central and Eastern Europe. 1940s-1950s” as a candidate for the UNESCO World Heritage List. The first point of the roadmap is inclusion of the architectural ensemble of Independence Square in Minsk into Belarus’ short list of UNESCO world heritage site candidates. In line with the roadmap, the Council of Ministers is to draft a corresponding resolution by 1 August. The document is expected to be signed in September.

The document will be elaborated by a group of experts under the supervision of the Minsk City Council.

Participation in the transnational property nomination “Socialist Postwar Architecture in Central and Eastern Europe. 1940s-1950s” was confirmed by Russia, Poland and Germany. Ukraine is considering its participation, too. Armenia has expressed its interest. Before the nomination can be submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, it should be included into the national short list.