The management of the Grunwald Battle Museum has responded to appeals from Belarusian politicians supporting a petition to install the white-red-white flag at the Grunwald battlefield. The installation of an additional flagpole depends on the approval of the voivodeship authorities.
Earlier, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet Pavel Latushka, and United Transitional Cabinet Representative for National Revival Pavel Barkouski sent letters to the museum’s management supporting the initiative to install the white-red-white flag at the Grunwald battlefield alongside the flags of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine.
In a reply received on July 15, Museum Director Szymon Drej said that installing an additional flagpole is currently impossible because it requires administrative procedures and several approvals. He noted that, due to its historical significance, the battlefield is under special protection by the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship Office for the Protection of Monuments.
“In response to your request, we held preliminary consultations with the Voivodeship Office for the Protection of Monuments and regret to inform you that it is currently not possible to install an additional flagpole on the hill with the monument,” the reply states.
“At the same time, I would like to stress that the Grunwald Battle Museum in Stębark fully supports Belarusians’ aspirations for freedom and the preservation of their historical identity. I sincerely hope that these efforts will be rewarded in the future and that the Belarusian people will be able to build their traditions in their own independent homeland,” the museum director added.
Pavel Latushka said he expects a favourable opinion from the voivodeship authorities.
“I hope that the leadership of the Voivodeship Office for the Protection of Monuments will make a positive decision and that, in the future, the white-red-white flag will fly over the Grunwald battlefield during all ceremonies dedicated to this historic victory.
We will also send a letter to the Voivodeship Office for the Protection of Monuments requesting that it coordinate the necessary procedures and grant permission for the installation of the flag,” he said.
