Rural Estate Owner, Famous Musician Detained Near Lepel

• 17.06.2023, 14:43

Earlier, the man's house was raided, but nothing was found.

The law-enforcers of the Lepel district detained a musician, cultural figure and social activist Vasil Shkindzer, the owner of the Polsvizh rural estate, located in the village of Vialiki Polsvizh near the district center, Vitsebsk Spring reports.

According to human rights activists, Shkindzer was detained on June 13, and on June 14, judge of the Lepel District Court Natallia Sushko arrested him for 15 days. On what basis and under what article is unknown.

Earlier, the man's house was raided, but nothing prohibited was found.

Vasil Shkindzer is known far beyond the borders of his region as an enthusiast of Belarusian traditional culture, a collector of folklore. In his estate, he created a museum of history and rural life, conducts folk rituals. Vasil is also known for his bagpipe playing, which he himself recreated using the only copy of this instrument in the Lepel region, which is stored in the local history museum.

In his estate, Shkindzer not only receives guests, but also holds cultural events — plein airs, master classes for artisans, exhibitions. Every year he held the Zhniven festival, authorized by the authorities, where artists, artisans, and musicians gathered.

In 2017, the Polsvizh rural estate won the republican competition in the nomination “Beholder of Traditions”. The state media repeatedly wrote about Vasil Shkindzer.

Earlier this week, in the Pruzhany district, the owner of the rural estate “Stuly” Larysa Bytsko, who was also involved in the popularization of Belarusian traditional culture, was detained. She was arrested for 15 days. Other people were also detained during the law-enforcers’ raid on the estate.