Belarus Plans to Revoke Legal Protection of 7 Heritage Sites, Including Polish-Lithuanian Origins

Belarus plans to revoke legal protection for seven heritage sites, a move tied to the country’s broader “historical policy,” according to reporting. The threatened sites include locations with Polish-Lithuanian historical connections, reflecting renewed pressure on symbols and narratives associated with that legacy. If protections are removed, the properties could lose safeguards against alteration or destruction, raising concerns among historians and local communities. The proposal is being framed by officials as administrative or cultural rationalization, while critics argue it effectively accelerates the erasure of contested heritage.