Belarusians do not forget their people!

On July 26, 2022 Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to Japan Ruslan Esin together with representatives of Matsuyama municipality and the organization for the preservation of the graves of Russian soldiers of 1904-1905 and its head Akira Sugeta laid flowers on the graves of three natives of the Belarusian land:

• Stefan Butchok, a native of Vitebsk Province, Lepel County (died July 25, 1905);
• Athanasius Lazarev, a native of Mogilev Province, Mogilev County (died April 27, 1905);
• Puprish Ignatius, a native of Vitebsk province, Rezhets County (died February 8, 1905).

Today we can say with certainty that this holy place has become a symbol of friendship between the Belarusian, Russian and Japanese people,” said the Ambassador during the memorial ceremony.

The Ambassador thanked the city authorities, the residents and the youth of Matsuyama for the careful attitude to the warriors' graves and for the readiness to transfer the earth from the graves of the Belarusians to the crypt of the Church of All Saints in Minsk. “Some European countries need to learn from the Japanese how to treat war graves and monuments”.

At a meeting with the vice-mayor of Matsuyama Takeshi Matsubara the Ambassador discussed the possibility of establishing contacts with one of the Belarusian cities, as well as establishing interaction between business representatives.

Earlier on July 24 the Ambassador together with Honorary Consul of the Republic of Belarus in Hokkaido Masato Matsuura and citizens of Hakodate honored the memory of Elizaveta Goshkevich, the wife of the famous son of the Belarusian land Joseph Goshkevich and also put flowers to the bust of the outstanding diplomat at the Hakodate Cultural Center.

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