How much does it cost to destroy an architectural monument in Belarus? Pennies!
Last year, in the Smarhon district, a drunk driver destroyed a 19th-century roadside chapel that had the status of a historical and cultural heritage site. The man was deprived of his driving license and given a large fine for violating traffic rules. But the fine for destroying an architectural monument turned out to be simply ridiculous.
The incident occurred back in October 2025 in the village of Rasla. As the traffic police then reported, the Audi driver lost control. Later, unofficial details from local residents appeared on social networks. According to them, the 25-year-old heavily intoxicated man was rushing to school to pick up a child.
Geese suddenly ran out onto the road under the wheels, and, trying to avoid a collision, the driver steered the car directly into a 19th-century brick chapel, which was included in the State List of Historical and Cultural Heritage in 2019. The impact was so severe that both the car and the historical structure were virtually destroyed. The driver himself, surprisingly, was not seriously injured.
As reported by the Hrodna Regional Prosecutor's Office, the driver was brought to justice twice, under two separate proceedings.
The first — for violating traffic rules and driving while intoxicated. Here, the punishment turned out to be severe: a fine of 8400 rubles and deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for five years.
But then begins the most interesting part. Since the destroyed object had the status of an architectural monument, the Smarhon District Prosecutor's Office initiated a separate administrative proceeding under Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (Destruction, damage, or loss of historical and cultural heritage sites or cultural heritage sites that can be given the status of historical and cultural heritage).
And following its consideration, the district administrative commission imposed another fine on the man. In the amount of 270 rubles.
Interestingly, when a similar incident occurred in the same Smarhon district in 2021, and a drunk driver only damaged a 19th-century chapel, according to the conclusion of "Belrestauratsiya" (Belarusian Restoration), the damage amounted to over 10 thousand rubles.
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