Restoration and controversies surrounding the monument
In April 2008, the Minsk City Executive Committee decided to send the monument for restoration. It was planned to replace it with a fountain, which sparked significant public outcry. The Belarusian opposition in exile compared this to the dismantling of national symbols following the 1995 referendum. Despite the controversies, the monument was returned to its place in June 2008.
New location of the monument
After the restoration, the monument was moved 151 meters northwest, closer to Maksim Bahdanovich’s birthplace. It is now located at the intersection of Maksim Bahdanovich Street and Paris Commune Square. The poet's figure is turned towards the Svisloch River, between house No. 27 on M. Bahdanovich Street and the Suvorov Military School.
Architectural features of the monument
The monument was created by renowned artists: sculptor S. Vakar and architects Y. Kazakov and L. Moskalevich. The total height of the monument is 4.45 meters.
Artistic image of the poet
The figure of Maksim Bahdanovich is depicted with arms crossed over his chest, holding a bouquet of cornflowers in his right hand— a symbol often praised in his poetry. The pedestal is made of red granite, giving the monument a solemn and majestic appearance.
