Orsha residents try to protect historical heritage



Orsha residents collect signatures for restoration of the cloister constructed at the end of the 18th century, one of the few historical objects which survived wars and vandal acts. However, recently its roof has fallen in, after which the state of the building is rapidly deteriorating.

Though the cloister is Catholic, six years ago the Orsha authorities passed
it to the Vitsebsk diocese of the Belarusian Orthodox Church. The Orthodox
Church refuses to repair the building referring to absence of financial means,
and the Orsha Town Procuracy keeps ignoring the violation of the Law On the
protection of monuments of historical and cultural heritage.

Local residents started collecting signatures under a special address, in which
they ask the town authorities to take all measures for saving the building of
the cloister as a valuable element of the historical and cultural heritage of
Orsha.

Human Rights
Chronicle  http://www.spring96.org/en/news/43344