Opening of the photo-documentary exhibition “Echoes of the Afghan War” at the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus
On February 21, 2022, the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus hosted the presentation of the photo-documentary exhibition “Echo of the Afghan War”, timed to the Year of Historical Memory, the Internationalist Soldiers Remembrance Day, the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus.
This exhibition was prepared jointly with the State Museum of the History of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus with the participation of the Department for Archives and Records Management of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus, the Belarusian State Archives of Scientific and Technical Documentation, the State Archives of Minsk Region, the Belarusian Public Association of Veterans, the Minsk City Organization of Veterans of the War in Afghanistan “Memory”.
The exhibition presents documents reflecting the activities of state and party bodies of the BSSR and the Republic of Belarus, public organizations and associations in implementing the programs for social and medical rehabilitation of the internationalist soldiers, providing them with cultural and household goods, establishing personal pensions and benefits, creating memorial complexes and monuments. The exhibition also includes photos of representatives of the Soviet and Afghan armed forces, the country’s civilian population and maps of Afghanistan. Chairman of the Minsk City Organization of Veterans of the War in Afghanistan “Memory” Vladimir Shokov provided for the exhibition his personal collection of orders, medals and other awards, which reflect the courage and heroism of Soviet military servicemen.
In his welcoming speech, Director of the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus Andrey Demyanyuk noted the importance of preserving the memory of the Belarusians who performed their international duty in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan in 1979-1989.
Veterans of the war in Afghanistan shared their memories of military service: Chairman of the Belarusian Public Association of Veterans Ivan Gordeichik, Chairman of the Council of the Belarusian Union of Veterans of the War in Afghanistan Valery Gaidukevich, Chairman of the Minsk City Organization of Veterans of the War in Afghanistan “Memory” Vladimir Shokov.
In their speeches, Director of the Central Archives of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus Boris Gorkavy and Director of the State Museum of the History of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus Sergey Azaronok emphasized the importance of archival and museum institutions in preserving the historical and cultural heritage of the country.
The exhibition is intended for historians, scientists and museum workers, researchers, teachers of higher and secondary educational institutions, local historians, as well as for all those who are interested in the national historical heritage of Belarus.
