Bykov, Vasil b. June 19, 1924 d. June 22, 2003 Author. Famous in his native Belarus, a former Soviet state. Originally favored by the Communist Party, he fell out of favor with Soviet authorites and their successor in the new state of Belarus. Later in life, he took up another struggle, this time against the leader of Belarus, which became a separate country in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Lukashenko was elected as the first president of Belarus in 1994. As he strengthened his grip on power, he came under pressure and finally...[Read More] (Bio by: Joe Walker) Moskovsky Cemetery, Minsk, Minsk City District, Belarus
Forst, Grete b. August 18, 1878 d. June 1, 1942 Opera Singer. Primarily a coloratura soprano, she is remembered for her career at the Vienna State Opera (VSO) during the early 20th century. Born Marguerite Feigstock in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire, she made her 1900 operatic debut at Cologne as the title heroine of Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor". After refining her art she was engaged for the VSO in 1903 by Maestro Gustav Mahler and in her time before the public sang such coloratura fare as the Queen of the Night in Mozart's "...[Read More] (Bio by: Bob Hufford) Maly Trostenets Extermination Camp, Minsk, Minsk City District, Belarus
Salei, Ruslan b. November 2, 1974 d. September 7, 2011 Professional Hockey Player. For fourteen seasons (1996 to 2004, 2005 to 2011), he played at the defense position in the National Hockey League with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings. He began his career with the Minsk Dynamo in 1992 and was selected by the Mighty Ducks as their first choice (9th overall pick) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. He marked his league debut with Anaheim during the 1996-1997 season and appeared in 30 games that year. He...[Read More] (Bio by: C.S.) Moskovsky Cemetery, Minsk, Minsk City District, Belarus
Swiatek, Kazimirez Cardinal b. October 21, 1914 d. July 21, 2011 Roman Catholic Cardinal. Twice a survivor of Soviet prisons, he was the longtime head of the Church in Belarus. Born to a Polish family that was sent to Siberia during the Russian Revolution, he was raised in what was then Poland, educated at Pinsk, and ordained a Priest in 1939. Arrested by the NKVD for anti-Soviet activities in 1941 he was sentenced to death but was able to escape during the Nazi invasion. Again arrested in 1944 he was to spend nine years in Siberia before returning to Pinsk...[Read More] (Bio by: Bob Hufford) Katedra Pińska, Minsk, Minsk City District, Belarus
b. June 19, 1924 d. June 22, 2003