October Revolution Day at the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus

November 7 is a nationwide public holiday in our country — October Revolution Day. The staff of the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus (hereinafter referred to as NARB) also marked this significant date.

In anticipation of the holiday, a formal staff gathering was held at NARB on November 6. NARB Director E.A.Stukanova addressed the team, noting that this day symbolizes respect for the historical past and serves as a reminder of the importance of unity, the continuity of generations, and the contribution of every employee to the country’s overall well-being.

Following this, NARB staff attended a lecture by V.F.Gigin, Candidate of Historical Sciences, titled «October 1917 in Minsk». Drawing from his original video project «Historical Environment» (featured on the «SB TV» YouTube channel), Vadim Frantsevich provided a detailed analysis of the events of the October Revolution in Minsk. He challenged common stereotypes surrounding the revolution, arguing that the events of autumn 1917 in Minsk—along with the convocation of the All-Belarusian Congress in December of that year—laid a solid foundation for the subsequent proclamation of the Byelorussian SSR (BSSR) and the formation of the modern, sovereign Belarusian state. He also examined how the Bolsheviks navigated the highly complex «national question» amidst the collapse of the empire.

Furthermore, as part of the October Revolution Day observances, staff from the NARB Department for the Use of Documents and Information organized exhibitions of archival records at several locations: the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus, the Department for Archives and Records Management of the Ministry of Justice, the Appellate Economic Court of the Republic of Belarus, and the editorial offices of the journal «Justice of Belarus» («Yustitsiya Belarusi»). V.P.Garmatny, a leading archivist at the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus (NARB), introduced those present to the documentary exhibitions «Testimonies of an Era: October 1917» and «A Stroke of History: The October Revolution in Archival Documents».

Thus, the traditions of constructive labor established in the last century help us develop today, while archivists carefully preserve this historical memory, serving as a connecting link between eras.

Pictured: NARB staff members during a lecture by V.F.Gigin, Candidate of Historical Sciences.