The Vitebsk Museum of Minay Shmyrev will open after the first stage of reconstruction with an updated exhibition

September 29, Vitebsk / Sergei Kotovets - BELTA /. The Vitebsk Regional Museum of Hero of the Soviet Union M.F. Shmyrev will open after the first stage of reconstruction on October 1 with an updated exhibition featuring unique documents on the post-war activities of Minay Shmyrev. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the museum director Irina Shishkova. About Br300 million from the regional budget was allocated for the repair of the building's facade. In addition, the landscaping of the park territory of the museum complex has begun. During the repair work, which lasted almost 3 months, the museum staff completely updated the exhibition in two halls dedicated to the post-war activities of the famous partisan brigade commander. In particular, for the first time, the manuscript of Minay Shmyrev's memoirs "At the Reception of Comrade Stalin" will be presented, along with a number of other documents from the museum's collection. A new exhibition block has also been created, composed of gifts to the museum from honored guests and official delegations. Over its 40-year history, the Vitebsk museum has been visited by representatives from more than 10 countries, so the museum staff decided to present this aspect of the institution's educational activities to visitors. The second stage of reconstruction, which is planned to be completed by May 9, 2010, will focus on the transformation of the park area. As a result, the museum and park exhibition should represent a single memorial complex dedicated to the partisan movement, she emphasized. During the reconstruction, it is planned to restore the open-air exhibition recreations "Partisan Dugout," "Rail War," as well as create new ones - "Defensive Trenches," "Partisan Airfield" with characteristic elements for the Great Patriotic War period, reflecting the history of the partisan movement. The completion of the work will allow for a higher level of showcasing the significance of the feat of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, using the example of the participation of Vitebsk natives in combat operations, Irina Shishkova stressed. In addition, the project provides for the creation of a recreation area with developed service infrastructure, as well as sports grounds. This will enable the holding of public events and traveling exhibitions. The Memorial Museum of the partisan commander of the brigade, Hero of the Soviet Union Minay Filippovich Shmyrev (partisan pseudonym Batka Minay), was opened on July 5, 1969, during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders. It includes 4 exhibition halls dedicated to various stages of the legendary partisan brigade commander's life, as well as a park of about 0.5 hectares. A sculptural bust of Minay Shmyrev by People's Artist of the USSR Zair Azgur is installed in the park area, and an oak alley planted by former participants of the partisan movement is located there. -0-