Prosecutors in the Hrodna region have identified underpayments to the presidential fund for the support of culture and the arts.
Under Belarusian law, legal entities and sole proprietors whose activities directly affect a historical and cultural site or its protection zone are required to make contributions to the fund. Belarusian legal entities and sole proprietors must contribute 5% of their profits, while foreign entities must contribute 25%.
Inspections carried out in Hrodna and the Karelichy, Lida and Navahrudak districts found a significant number of organizations that either made no contributions to the fund or paid less than required, the Hrodna Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported.
For example, two restaurants located in a historic and cultural building were required to contribute 33,600 Belarusian rubles to the fund in 2025 but paid only 2,000 Belarusian rubles.
A catering establishment in Mir underpaid by nearly 54,500 Belarusian rubles, while a grill bar in Lida underpaid by 5,400 Belarusian rubles.
The total amount owed by the violators exceeded 144,000 Belarusian rubles.
Prosecutors also found that protection zone plans had not been developed for more than 300 immovable historical and cultural heritage sites. Some sites were also missing official heritage plaques.
In the village of Hajtsyunishki in the Voranava district, bricks had fallen from the historical and cultural site known as the “Remains of the Chapel.” The remains of a former manor estate in the village of Verdamichy in the Svislach district were overgrown with weeds and bushes. An illegal dump was discovered at a Neolithic archaeological site in the village of Mikalayeva.
More than 20 prosecutorial supervision acts were issued. A consolidated submission was also sent to the Hrodna Regional Executive Committee.
