Moscow hosts opening ceremony of Belarusian Embassy to Russia’s Business and Culture Centre

Maroseika Street is home to the new triple-storey Belarusian Embassy building, dedicated to business and cultural pursuits. Almost a decade has passed since the idea was first voiced. Belarus’ Prime Minister, Andrei Kobyakov, joined the State Duma Chairman, Sergey Naryshkin, in cutting the red ribbon.


The opening ceremony featured many top level guests: the First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia — Igor Shuvalov, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia — Arkady Dvorkovich, the State Secretary of the Union State — Grigory Rapota, the OSCE General Secretary — Nikolai Bordyuzha, the Head of Russia’s Central Election Commission — Vladimir Churov, and various ministers of the Eurasian Economic Commission, deputies and diplomats.

In his speech, Mr. Kobyakov noted that the idea was born long ago, aiming to promote understanding of Belarusian culture, and of our scientific and economic potential. Ambassador Vladimir Grigoriev initiated the project, which was approved by Ambassador Vasily Dolgolev and came to completion under the present head of the diplomatic mission, Igor Petrishenko.

“The new building aims to become an advanced venue for presenting Belarus’ export and investment potential: a place for business circles of our countries to meet and a place to support Belarusian-Russian interaction across diverse fields,” Mr. Kobyakov stressed.

“The Business and Cultural Centre is impressively multifunctional, with all grounds to meet modern requirements to host a wide range of events — including state parties, business consultations and negotiations for premieres, performances by classical and pop stars, international exhibitions, symposiums, briefings and press conferences.”


Mr. Naryshkin is confident that the new venue will prove busy, welcoming guests to a range of friendly meetings and business negotiations. He notes, “I’d like to stress that efficient strategic partnership between our countries is successfully developing along all avenues. Sincere respect and friendship between Belarusian and Russian nations are fundamental to our co-operation.”

The General Director of Construction Trust #8 JSC (Brest), Mikhail Vodchits, handed a symbolic key to the Belarusian Ambassador to Russia, Igor Petrishenko, who then took his guests on a tour of the building.

The Business and Cultural Centre is unique in comprising a conference hall able to seat 240 (with sign interpretation for 280), a multimedia press centre, a musical-literary parlour, a library, a gym and a restaurant of Belarusian cuisine. It occupies over 15,000 square metres and, without exaggeration, has been built by the whole country.

Designs were developed by Minskgrazhdanproekt Institute, while the wooden furniture (on the first floor) was made by Belarusian factories, to individual requirements. Original lamps in the form of raindrops have been designed by Belarusian masters, and produced at Kaskad Plant (Lida, Grodno Region). Some products were brought from abroad: the marble hall on the first floor uses Venezuelan tiles.

A museum of folk crafts is situated inside, as is a library of Belarusian language books, and the Belarusian diaspora now has its own hall — able to seat 60.