Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko comments on restoration of fire-damaged church in Budslav

Photo courtesy of the Emergencies Ministry

MINSK, 14 May (BelTA) – After touring the farmers’ market near Minsk, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko commented on the restoration of the Catholic church in Budslav that was damaged by fire, BelTA has learned.

“One should not rush with it, even experts say that. We need to help with disassembling and other works ... However, let specialists do their work, examine what needs to be done. They will not do anything without the state anyway. The opposition says again that they will raise the money. They have already ‘raised’ the money for veterans. I just don’t know where this money is. Now they say it again: we will raise the funds. They won’t raise anything. They will simply announce it, take money away from people and divide it in Poland. Therefore, the church should open an account so that people could donate this money to them, and not to Poland. Anyone will be able to donate as much as they want,” the president said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko believes that the restoration project will not require an enormous amount of work. “We will restore the roof, put everything in order inside. Take this matter under control. When experts issue their findings about what should be done and how, let me know ,” the head of state said addressing Minsk Oblast Governor Aleksandr Turchin.

A reminder, firefighters received a call about the fire in the National Sanctuary of the Mother of God of Budslav at 7.47 on 11 May. The call was made by a priest. There were no parishioners in the church when the fire started. Special-purpose and rescue equipment arrived on-scene, valuables were evacuated. Firefighting was complicated by the fact that the fire appeared in wooden structures in hidden voids. A criminal case was initiated.

An emergency meeting was held in Minsk the following day to discuss the situation. A special commission was set up at the Minsk-Mogilev Archdiocese to eliminate the consequences of the fire and restore the church.

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