Lukashenka's 'Wallet' is Building a 'Spiritual Complex' in His Native Region Worth More Than a Million Dollars
Known pro-government businessman Alexander Zaitsau plans to build a Catholic spiritual complex in Pruzhany worth more than a million dollars. According to the 'Christian Vision' initiative, which conducted a special investigation, this project may be part of a larger scheme by the businessman, related to the construction of churches and the placement of expensive icons within them.
Earlier, 'Christian Vision' wrote about a mysterious chapel without crosses in the village of Kivacyna, Pruzhany district, which is called 'Zaitsau's church'. Although the building externally more resembles an Orthodox church, in fact, it is intended for the Roman Catholic Church. However, a year after the completion of construction, the chapel remains closed and unconsecrated.
Meanwhile, in Pruzhany itself, at Zaitsau's initiative and expense, the construction of a new Catholic church is planned. There is already a Catholic church in the city, and the local Catholic community is small. Therefore, as 'Christian Vision' notes, there is no obvious need for a second church. However, the issue of construction was probably decided at least a year ago: even then, a project existed, and a sum exceeding a million dollars was determined.
'Christian Vision' found confirmation of the project's existence and a description of the future object. Officially, it will be called 'Catholic Spiritual Complex "Chapel of Saint Archangel Michael"', although in appearance it resembles a full-fledged Catholic church.
The local Roman Catholic parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which owns the existing old church, is designated as the customer for the complex. At the same time, as 'Christian Vision' suggests, a small parish does not have and cannot have sufficient funds for the construction of such an object.
A plot of 1.66 hectares has been allocated for the project. It is planned to place not only a spiritual complex in Neo-Gothic style on it, but also a parish house, a 'Garden of Gethsemane', a parish center, and pedestrian and walking paths.
'Christian Vision' received information about this from the materials of the public discussion of the project, which the Pruzhany District Executive Committee held in April 2026. The Minsk limited liability company 'ZA STROY' was then designated as the customer's representative, and OJSC 'Brestproject' as the developer of the architectural and planning concept.
Zaitsau's possible motives are linked to events five years ago. In 2021, a very expensive icon of Saint Barbara appeared in neighboring Ruzhany. It was officially reported that it was created by the famous Brest jeweler Nikolai Kuzmich, commissioned by an unnamed patron, author of the copy of the Cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk. The same patron, it was reported, paid for the renovation of the church.
In the photographs posted on the parish page, one can see, as 'Christian Vision' suggests, the patron himself. The man was wearing a mask, as the coronavirus pandemic was ongoing at the time, but in one of the pictures, Alexander Zaitsau can be recognized in him.
In 2025, Nikolai Kuzmich announced that he was creating a series of 12 unique icons. The first in this series was the icon of Saint Barbara. According to 'Christian Vision', each of these icons costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. Gold, silver, precious and semi-precious stones are used for their manufacture, as well as cloisonné enamel technique, including ancient Byzantine enamel.
In spring 2026, the jeweler completed another icon from the series - Saint Catherine. According to the organization, all 12 icons were commissioned and paid for by Alexander Zaitsau, and he is their owner. The works are transferred to churches only for safekeeping, which is formalized by relevant documents.
'Christian Vision' draws attention to the fact that the series also includes an image of Saint Archangel Michael. The organization suggests that this icon may be placed in the new spiritual complex in Pruzhany, which will become Zaitsau's main religious project.
The authors of the material also reflect on the symbolism of the number 12. It has significance in Christianity, and in esotericism and occultism it can relate to the twelve signs of the zodiac. The number 12 is also used in some degrees and rituals of Freemasonry.
There is no confirmed information that Zaitsau himself is involved in esotericism. However, his wife does not hide her interest in such practices and calls herself a witch. Additionally, the businessman's friend Oleg Orlov openly stated that he practiced occultism.
According to 'Christian Vision', the number 12 may have a special, magical significance for Zaitsau and be perceived as a sacred protection for a certain territory and its resources — people, forests, and those who manage these forests.
The initiative links this possible symbolism to a very local area: Pruzhany, Ruzhany, Belovezhskaya Pushcha (Białowieża Forest), and Belarusian Polesie. These are territories that can be considered the businessman's native region and zone of influence.
The series of icons also includes images of the Mother of God — the Mistress of Forests — and Saint Hubert, the patron of hunters. According to the authors of the investigation, these images form a peculiar pair: the forest as a sanctuary and the hunter or forester as its responsible guardian. The icon of Saint Barbara, in turn, may symbolize the protection of human life and the region from disasters.
'Christian Vision' suggests that Zaitsau wants to place all 12 icons in different churches — one in each — within the Pruzhany district.
However, currently there are only ten Catholic churches and chapels in the district, some of which look like ordinary village houses.
Therefore, the authors suggest that the businessman may be planning the construction of several more churches so that their total number in the district reaches twelve. The main one will be the spiritual complex in Pruzhany. The chapel in Kivacyna was probably built to house one of the icons. It is not excluded that similar chapels may appear in other villages of the Pruzhany district.
According to 'Christian Vision', representatives of the diocesan clergy do not support the construction of a new Catholic church in Pruzhany and call Zaitsau a 'pseudo-patron'. They explain that with truly selfless intentions, the businessman could help the local church where such help is most needed. As an example, the construction of a church in Brest is cited, where, according to the clergy, there is an urgent need for a new church.
However, Zaitsau, it is claimed, chooses another path: he invests significant funds in his own projects, builds churches, and pays for expensive icons, which are created according to his personal designs.
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