By Viktar Korbut
The solemn handing over of the Statute of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to the Museum of Mogilev History was hosted by the National History Museum in Minsk. Amazingly, the book — purchased from a Moscow collector — is the only original exemplar of the set of laws, published in 1588; these operated in Belarus until 1840, being a judicial document with the power of law. The acquisition of the book is important for the whole country.
Back in the 19th century, researchers from Poland and Russia dedicated works to the Statute, studying its articles in old Belarusian language (which wasn’t an official language but was studied to correctly explain the words of the ancient legal document). 200 years ago, Belarusian language was expected to become extinct yet the new Constitution of contemporary Belarus is written in this language. The medieval Constitution (the Statute) is understandable to any Belarusian without translation.
The Statute gives proof of an early 20th century Belarusian national Renaissance, showing high culture and our own national legislation — written in our native language. The edition released in 1588 is a forerunner of Belarus’ modern day statehood and independence.
Belarus’ Culture Minister, Pavel Latushko, stresses that the acquisition of the first original Statute ‘is an exceptionally important event for domestic history and culture’. He explains, “It’s evident that historical and cultural treasures should be returned to their homeland; much has been done to promote this at state level, with around Br10bn allocated from the budget to museums to buy historical and cultural treasures, returning them to Belarus. This year, four Slutsk sashes have been purchased and these are to be kept at the Radziwills’ Palace in Nesvizh. Moreover, the last four years have seen the National History Museum purchase 179 unique historical and cultural treasures — now part of its collection.”
In mid-May, the Museum of Mogilev History announced a charity campaign to raise funds for the purchase of the unique book, sold by electronic auction in Moscow for $45,000. The seller, the owner of an antiquarian shop in Moscow, requested ten percent of the sum within a fortnight but Belarus managed to collect the whole sum within almost three weeks.
Mogilev residents and Belarusians born in the Mogilev Region but now living and working in Russia helped acquire the book, with $15,000 collected via private donations. The Alpari Group of Companies from Moscow offered the remainder, responding to the National Bank of Belarus’ request for assistance in returning the unique book to its historical homeland. The international response has been wonderful.
Valery Kazakov, the Chairman of the Federal National and Cultural Autonomy of Belarusians in Russia, liaised with Alpari, showing the increasing role of the Belarusian diaspora. Mr. Kazakov notes that, alongside his fellow countrymen, he’ll continue helping his historical homeland acquire national relics.
Symbolically, the Statute is on display in the hall of the National History Museum, alongside items discovered during digs at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, restored in Vilnius 200 years after its destruction. Belarusians and Lithuanians share a common history of statehood — from the foundation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 13th century to its joining with the Russian Empire in the 18th century. The Statute is a monument of Belarusian and Lithuanian culture and legal thought. Probably, this unique set of laws was compiled and edited at Vilnius Palace in the 16th century. It was printed in Vilno by a printing house founded by Belarusian Mamonichs entrepreneurs.
The Statute is a symbol of Belarusian culture and our close ties with European neighbours.
