The project to renovate Victory Square in Minsk exceeded Br11 million, Natalia Smolskaya, the head of the arts office of the culture department at the Minsk City Hall, told the media in Minsk on 12 May, BelTA has learned.
“Funds from the Minsk city budget and the money earned during the national voluntary cleanup day 2019 were used to finance the project. It was more than Br7 million and Br4.3 million respectively,” Natalia Smolskaya said.
The decision to overhaul the monument was made a year ago. All this time the monument was inaccessible to Minsk residents and visitors to the Belarusian capital. The obelisk, the stylobate and high reliefs were renovated. Specialists restored the lost granite on the stele. Four bronze wreaths around the obelisk were also refreshed.
The underground part was renovated too: the walls, ceiling and floor were cleaned, and lighting was replaced. A multimedia screen and new information stands were installed. An exhibition of documentary photos and war-themed paintings by Belarusian artists was mounted.
Victory Monument is one of the hallmarks of Minsk, a historical and cultural value of Belarus. It was unveiled in 1954. The last time the square and the monument were renovated was in 2003. The obelisk made of gray granite is about 40m high. Four sides of the pedestal are decorated with bronze reliefs created by Belarusian sculptors. The obelisk is crowned with a 3-meter replica of the Order of Victory. On 3 July 1961, the Eternal Fire was lit at the foundation of the monument. Underground there is a ring gallery that turns into a round memorial hall. In the center there is an illuminated wreath made of artistic glass — a symbol of the Eternal Fire of memory.
