Only 12 kilometers from the Smolensk region. How the location of Liozno affects Belarusian-Russian cooperation
For many Belarusians, the sense of unity with Russians is innate, as historically we were one people, preserved common traditions and culture, and experienced tragic events of the Great Patriotic War together.
Nine long months of bloody battles for Liozno were paid for with the lives of over 32,000 Red Army soldiers and partisans. Every year, hundreds of guests from former Soviet republics visit the district to honor the memory of the soldiers who fell for the freedom and independence of our Motherland.
– The region cooperates particularly closely with Russia; over the past five years alone, seven agreements on friendship and cooperation have been signed with districts of the Smolensk, Pskov, Moscow, and Ryazan regions, – emphasized Irina Dervoed, Deputy Chairperson of the Liozno District Executive Committee. – The most active interaction is currently underway through relations with the Smolensk regional public organization "Belarusian National-Cultural Autonomy of the Smolensk Region" in implementing the joint program "Twin Cities of History. We Remember the Past, We Build the Future. The New Generation." Cooperation agreements have also been signed with the Smolensk public movement for the development of civil society institutions "Zemlyaki," thanks to which the project "Roads of War. Roads of Peace. Roads of Memory" is being implemented with the support of the Presidential Grants Foundation of the Russian Federation.
At the beginning of 2021, another cooperation agreement was signed, this time within the framework of a new project – "Search and Research Patriotic Expedition 'Atlas of Memory. Partisan Frontier'."
In addition to preserving common history, Liozno actively interacts with Russia in the cultural sphere. Creative support for Belarusian culture festivals, Belarusian song festivals, exchange concerts, poetry contests, theater weeks, and many other forms of work provide opportunities for communication, exchange of experience, and stimulate creative activity.
– Residents of Liozno have taken a liking to Yelnya's "Rechienka" ensemble, Rudnya's "Bereznianochka" ensemble, the Demidov folk theater, and artists from Ryazan, – says Irina Dervoed. – And our creative groups "Medunitsa," "Pushkovskie Spavachki," and "Consonance" have not left Russian audiences indifferent.
In late December 2020, the head of the Smolensk national-cultural association of Belarusians, Sergey Krivko, was awarded the special district prize "Sunichka" for his contribution to the development of sister-city relations, the preservation of historical memory between the regions, and the laying of the foundations for people's diplomacy.
Another actively developing area of cooperation is education. Annually, young people from Liozno, along with representatives of the Russian Federation, participate in various events. The most notable of these include the regional seminar in Liozno "Modern Approaches and Strategies for Correctional Work with Children with Early Childhood Autism," the "Discover Yourself" festival of pedagogical ideas in Smolensk, the regional festival of theatrical and circus youth groups in Demidov, and many others.
Religion also brings our peoples closer. By the blessing of Archbishop Dimitry of Vitebsk and Orsha and with the assistance of Metropolitan Isidor of Smolensk and Dorogobuzh, the first department of Orthodox literature in the Vitebsk Diocese has been opened at the Liozno library.
Liozno region also attracts its neighbors with its beauty. The district has hunting lodges, agro-ecotourism estates, and equipped recreation areas, which Russians often visit. They leave not only with souvenirs and hunting trophies but also with vivid impressions, which they share with their friends, thereby contributing to the development of ecotourism.
It is not only friendship that brings countries closer, but also a competitive spirit. In 2019, residents of Liozno participated in 19 competitions involving Russian teams. On January 30, 2021, the district organization of the RPO "Belaya Rus" in conjunction with the Belarusian National-Cultural Association organized a cultural and sports festival "We Stand for a Healthy Lifestyle," which was attended by teams from the Vitebsk, Mogilev, and Smolensk regions.
March was also a busy month for the two countries. In Smolensk, the book "Return of a Legend: Lapun's Miracle" was published with the support of the Russian Presidential Grants Foundation, featuring culinary recipes for "lapuns" from various regions of Russia, as well as from the Liozno district. For students of Liozno Secondary School No. 1, the short feature film "Era" was shown. It was created as part of the "Film Lessons in Russian Schools" project by ANO "Intelrost" in collaboration with the Russian Space Society, with the assistance of the State Corporation for Space Activities "Roscosmos." This film has not yet been seen by Russian schoolchildren.
– We are confident that the development of sister-city ties, which have no borders, can preserve fraternal relations between peoples, – noted Irina Dervoed. – And in this case, the history of sister cities is the history of the future.