French Embassy to mark 201st anniversary of War of 1812

The Embassy of France in Belarus is organizing the events to mark the 201st anniversary of the War of 1812 and Napoleon's crossing of the Berezina River in Borisov District on 23 November. Guests and locals will lay flowers to the monuments and mass graves of French soldiers in the cemetery of the village of Studenka and the Brilevskoye Field historical-cultural complex near the village of Veselovo on the right bank of the Berezina. They will also visit the monument to the victims of the War of 1812 in the village of Studenka built with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland. The monument is a cross-shaped pedestal featuring the antique boy-warrior lying on one of the boulders, symbolizing all the victims regardless of nationality and religion. The banner pole falling out of his hands is picked up by the Eagle - the symbol of military valor and courage. The polished upper sides of the boulders in the form of waves symbolize the cool waters of the Berezina. Representatives of the French Embassy and students of the Borisov schools teaching the French language will attend an official ceremony to open the French Information and Reading desk at the Kolodeyev Regional Library in Borisov.