Vitebsk region has a heraldic register

December 17, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA /. The Vitebsk region has its own heraldic collection - the book "Heraldic Wreath of Vitebshchina". The publishing project was implemented by Vitebsk archivists with financial support from the regional executive committee, the deputy head of the main justice department - head of the department for archives and record keeping of the regional executive committee Sergey Rublevsky told a BELTA correspondent. The publication contains images and descriptions of all 37 coats of arms and 26 flags of the administrative-territorial and territorial units of the region established to date. Most of the heraldic symbols are developed based on historical information and graphic images. Thus, the first information about the coat of arms of the urban settlement of Ulla, Beshenkovichi district, dates back to 1577, and the coat of arms of Disna, Miory district, which the city received in 1569 after obtaining Magdeburg law, is considered one of the oldest in Belarus. In post-Soviet history, the first officially approved heraldic symbols in 1994 were the coat of arms and flag of Polotsk. In 2009, the Vitebsk region got its own heraldic symbols. The book has a clear structure and serves as a kind of guide to the world of heraldry in general and the heraldic symbols of cities, districts, and district centers. The introduction is dedicated to familiarizing readers with the heraldic language; the authors of the publication explain the specifics of using color palettes in heraldry, basic heraldic figures, and different types of shields. The main part of the book opens with images and descriptions of the State Symbols of the Republic of Belarus - the State Coat of Arms and the State Flag. Then, in alphabetical order, images of coats of arms and flags of settlements and regions are presented with historical information. The authors also considered it appropriate to supplement the content with data on the population of administrative-territorial units based on the results of the 2009 census. The work on approving heraldic symbols of settlements in the Vitebsk region will continue, noted Sergey Rublevsky. Today, the coats of arms of the urban settlements of Bolbasovo, Begoml, Lintupy, Orekhovsk, and Vitebsk district, as well as 11 flags, have undergone expert review by the Heraldic Council under the President of Belarus. In 2011, Vitebsk archivists will begin work on a new series of heraldic symbols for settlements, including villages. So far, only the village of Perebrodye, Miory district, has its own coat of arms and flag in the region. -0-