Monument to anti-Soviet underground resistance hero destroyed near Vileyka (Photo)

On the eve of Radunitsa (Day of Rejoicing, a traditional day of visiting family members' graves after the Easter) the unknown destroyed a monument to the hero of anti-Soviet underground who fought for independence of Belarus, Rastsislau Lapitski. The monument was situated in a stow called Krasny Berazhok, in Vileyka district.

The monument was raised by Vileyka community in autumn 2008, on the place where the hero was executed. It was a stone with the words: “Rastsislau Lapitski was shot dead here (І.ІХ.1928 - 28.Х.1950). Fighter for independence of Belarus”. The stone was sanctified by an Orthodox priest from the village of Kasuta, a native village of Lapitski, and where his father was a priest too, the website vialejka.org reports.

In order to knock down the monument, a tractor and a dump truck were used, and their traces are left on the scene. The monument was erected on a concrete cushion and weighed several tons. The stone was connected to the concrete by metallic rods. The monument was taken in an unknown direction.

The utter cynicism of the crime is in being performed on the eve of Radunitsa.

It should be noted that it is not the first occasion of such vandalism. Recently monuments in the cemetery of Khatsenchytsy were smashed. And a sand quarry was made in place of the unique cemetery of the 13th century near the village of Kulshyna. Sand with fragments of bones is taken out of it and delivered to Vileyka asphalt plant.

Rastsislau Lapitski was born on September 9, 1928 to a family of an Orthodox priest in Vileyka district Kasuta village. He was shot on October 28, 1950. In 1948-49 he founded an underground anti-Communist organisation of studying youth in Smarhon and Myadzel districts. They published anti-Communist and anti-Stalin leaflets. It was soon detected, its members, including minors, were sentenced to imprisonment in camps. Rastsislau Lapitski as the main organizer was sentenced to the capital punishment.