The State Archives of the Vitebsk Region and the Belarusian State Archives of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents (BSACFID) are co-authors of a unique publication, the presentation of which took place in Vitebsk

On December 5, 2025, a meeting with the authors of the publication «Here the Past Doesn’t Go Away, but Becomes the Foundation» was held in Vitebsk as part of the celebrations marking the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Zheleznodorozhny District.

Two state archives participated in the preparation of this book: the Belarusian State Archives of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents (BGAKFFD) and the State Archives of the Vitebsk Region.

The publication tells the story of the formation of the Zheleznodorozhny District, its memorable sites and landmarks, famous people, and ordinary residents whose lives were connected with the district. This is not the first time that Vitebsk archivists have collaborated with national archives, but it is the first on such a large scale. More than a hundred photographs from the BSACFID collection were submitted for the publication, the earliest of which dates back to the beginning of the last century. Vitebsk archivists refined the annotations for the photographs and wrote a brief history of the district. In addition to the photographs, the collection includes copies of archival documents from the collections of the State Archives of the Vitebsk Region, reflecting the history of the district from its inception until the mid-1990s. A photo series of Soviet and party leaders of the district (1940-1941, 1944-1948, 1951-1991) was also compiled from archival files. In total, the collection contains over 150 archival documents on various topics from both archives. The highlight of the publication is the drawings by schoolchildren and their essays expressing their sincere love for their native district.

«This book», – noted Alexander Vladimirovich Sysoev, head of the Zheleznodorozhny District Administration, – «carefully preserves and passes on to new generations the history, spirit, and achievements of the district. It encompasses an entire era, marked by numerous events, remarkable personalities, and human destinies».

The highlight of the celebration was a theatrical presentation prepared by the administration and educational institutions of the Zheleznodorozhny District, which took place on December 5, 2025.

At the event were Oksana Vasilyevna Pashkevich, Deputy Head of the Department of State Registration of Commercial (Non-Commercial) Organizations, Legal Expertise, and Organization of Archival Institutions of the Main Justice Department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee; Alexander Nikolayevich Korol, Director of the State Archives of the Vitebsk Region, and Tatyana Vladimirovna Buevich, Deputy Director; and Andrei Nikolayevich Gonchar, Director of the Belarusian State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents.

At the presentation, the archives were presented with author’s copies.

1. Presentation of the publication «Here the Past Does Not Go Away, but Becomes the Foundation»

2. Excerpt from the theatrical presentation of the publication «Here the Past Does Not Go Away, but Becomes the Foundation»

3. Andrei Nikolaevich Gonchar, Director of the Belarusian State Film, Photo, and Sound Documentation Archive, gives an interview to the Belarus 4 TV channel during the presentation of the publication «Here the Past Doesn’t Go Away, But Becomes the Foundation».

4. Aleksandr Vladimirovich Sysoyev, Head of the Zheleznodorozhny District Administration of Vitebsk, presents copies of the publication «Here the Past Doesn’t Go Away, But Becomes the Foundation» to Andrei Nikolaevich Gonchar, Director of the Belarusian State Film, Photo, and Sound Documentation Archive.

5. Aleksandr Vladimirovich Sysoyev, Head of the Zheleznodorozhny District Administration of Vitebsk, presents copies of the publication «Here the Past Doesn’t Go Away, But Becomes the Foundation» to Aleksandr Nikolaevich Korol, Director of the State Archives of the Vitebsk Region.

6. A group photo of representatives of the Zheleznodorozhny District Administration of Vitebsk, heads of enterprises and institutions in the district, and the authors of the publication «Here the Past Doesn’t Go Away, But Becomes the Foundation» at the presentation of the publication «Here the Past Doesn’t Go Away, But Becomes the Foundation».