Poem "To the Slanderers of Russia" not to be back on the monument

Mahileu authorities refuse to put back the plate with poem on Alexander Pushkin monument.

Valery Murashka, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, replied to Andrei Herashchanka, activist of the Russian movement in Belarus. The official explained the reason for the take-down of the plate with fragment of the poem "To the Slanderers of Russia".

"It is true, the lines from the poem "To the Slanderers of Russia" by Pushkin had a simple meaning in the 19th century and were the response to threats to Russia from the West .

In the current situation, given the existence of sovereign States, in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus with different public organizations on their socio-political field representing groups with different ideological views that are impossible to ignore, the lines could have different ideological interpretation not corresponding to an official position.

In this connection, as well as on the basis of feedbacks appeared on the Internet on the installation of the monument, the Head of the Executive Committee ordered to change the pedestal. Unfortunately, it was made on the national holiday of the Russian Federation and had no anti-Russian motivation", he said.

Bust of Alexander Pushkin was installed at the College Library in Mahileu in early June. It was a gift of Russian Walk of Fame. After the installation people noticed a fragment that could sound quite provocative:

...Or must we meet all Europe banded?

Have we forgot to conquer yet?...

…A steely rampart, close and serried,

Rise, Russia's warriors, one and all?

Then send your numbers without number,

Your madden'd sons, your goaded slaves,

In Russia's plains there's room to slumber,

And well they'll know their brethren's graves!

It caused an immediate negative reaction on the Internet. A week later the city authorities decided to take the plate with the poem off the monument.

It is noteworthy that the poem "To the Slanders of Russia" was a Pushkin's response to the reaction of the West on the violent suppression of the uprising in 1830s on the territory of Belarus, Lithuania and Poland. There are lines devoted to the event:

Why rave ye, babblers, so — ye lords of popular wonder ?

Why such anathemas 'gainst Russia do you thunder ?

What moves your idle rage? Is't Poland's fallen pride?

'T is but Slavonic kin among themselves contending,

An ancient household strife, oft judged but still unending,

A question which, be sure, you never can decide.