Mazyr
Encyclopedia
Mazyr, also Mozyr is a city in the Homiel Province
of Belarus
on the Pripyat River
about 210 km east of Pinsk
and 100 km northwest of Chernobyl
and is located at approximately 52°03′N 29°15′E. The population is 111,770 (2004 estimate). The total urban area
including Kalinkavičy across the river has a population of 150,000. Mazyr is known as a center of oil refining, machine building, and food processing in Belarus. It is home to one of the largest oil refineries
in Belarus, pumping out 18 million metric tons per year. The Druzhba pipeline
carries crude oil from Russia
splitting in two at Mazyr. One pipeline branch is directed into Poland
and the other one to Ukraine
.
The right bank of the Pripyat River
, where the city is located, is elevated above the left bank at substantial heights (up to 80 m). The overfall of surface of that scale is assumed to be a consequence of a glaciation: the Pripyat River
is running right along the edge where an ancient glacier
was located. Since both banks of the river are sandy, the right bank is cut through by a number of great ravine
s (more than 2.5 km length, up to 200 m width). The city is also located on the ravines, so its streets look much like streets of a mountain town. One of the ravines is proclaimed a reserve. Some of the nearby ravines are currently also equipped with ski lifts and transformed into skiing winter resorts.
Mazyr once had a sizable Jewish population. During World War II
, many Jews were executed by the Nazis in Mazyr. There are several memorials devoted to this in the modern city. As with other Soviet cities, during approximately the last 15 years of the Communist control, a large proportion of the remaining Jews have relocated abroad, mostly to Israel
and USA.
In 1986, the city suffered from heavy radioactive fallout
from the Chernobyl accident.
. First mentioned in mid-12th century as part of Duchy of Vladimir, and then the Duchy of Kiev. In 13th century it was conquered by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
. Initially a small settlement, in 15th century it was donated to Duke Michał Gliński
, who converted it into a town. The city received town rights (Magdeburg Law) first from king Stefan Batory
in 1577 and then from king Sigismund III of Poland in 1609. Despite having been destroyed by Russian forces twice (in 1525 and 1654), the city continued to grow and following the Union of Lublin
it became a major administrative and trade centre, as well as a seat of a powiat
("county" office and court). Between 1723 and 1726 the Jesuits created a school in Mozyr under auspice of the Academy of Vilna
. Following the suppression of the order in 1773 the school was secularised and continued to exist as a gymnasium
. Among its most famous graduates are Edward Piekarski (linguist) and Władysław Mazurkiewicz (physician).
In 1793, following the Partitions of Poland
, the town was annexed by Russia and its town rights were again confirmed in 1795. In 19th century the town grew rapidly, mostly because of the Russian Pale of Settlement
policy that allowed Jews to settle only in the lands once held by the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Because of that Mozyr grew to over 10 thousand inhabitants by the end of the century, most of them Jewish.
During the Polish-Soviet War
of 1920 the town was captured by the Polish Army in the so-called Mozyr Operation. Polish 9th Infantry Division captured the city in a swift and daring manoeuvre that earned its commanding officer, Col. Władysław Sikorski (later Prime Minister of Poland) a promotion to general
. In the course of the war the town was briefly recaptured by the Bolshevists, but in the aftermath of the battle of Warsaw
it was again recaptured by the Polish forces of Gen. Stanisław Bułak-Bałachowicz, who proclaimed a short-lived Belarusian People's Republic on November 12, 1920. However, in the Riga Peace Treaty it was assigned to Bolshevist Russia and became part of the Belarussian SSR. Since 1938 the town was a seat of Polesie region, however in 1954 it lost that status and was administratively attached to the region of Homyel
.
were spotted on camera playing a game of Russian roulette
in the yard. One patient was killed, causing a lot of controversy about how they were able to access the gun. Police investigation resulted in uncovering one of the biggest in history network of arms dealers founded in 1995 by Viktor Bout
. The dealers posed as mentally disabled and therefore could hardly be suspected in any criminal activity, and even if uncovered, could not be legally responsible or brought to court due to mental disability. One of the major weaknesses of the organization, known as "Katzmanaft", is that some members, while posing as being demented, are affected psychologically which results in the incidents such as happened in Mazyr mental hospital. Security guards were then questioned about the incident, but were not charged. It is also believed that the mental home is haunted and the local council is planning on closing it down.
newspaper 'Znamya Yunosti' (Russian:Знамя Юности). Up to forty rock bands take stage in what become major cultural event. Local band Otrazhenie
(Reflection), a pioneer and a leader of Belorussian Hard Rock is a constant participant and a contributor to the festival.
Homiel Voblast
Homiel Voblast or Gomel Oblast is a province of Belarus with its administrative center being Homyel.Important cities within the voblasts include: Gomel, Mazyr, Zhlobin, Svetlahorsk, Rechytsia, Kalinkavichy, Rahachow, Dobrush...
of Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
on the Pripyat River
Pripyat River
The Pripyat River or Prypiat River is a river in Eastern Europe, approximately long. It flows east through Ukraine, Belarus, and Ukraine again, draining into the Dnieper....
about 210 km east of Pinsk
Pinsk
Pinsk , a town in Belarus, in the Polesia region, traversed by the river Pripyat, at the confluence of the Strumen and Pina rivers. The region was known as the Marsh of Pinsk. It is a fertile agricultural center. It lies south-west of Minsk. The population is about 130,000...
and 100 km northwest of Chernobyl
Chernobyl
Chernobyl or Chornobyl is an abandoned city in northern Ukraine, in Kiev Oblast, near the border with Belarus. The city had been the administrative centre of the Chernobyl Raion since 1932....
and is located at approximately 52°03′N 29°15′E. The population is 111,770 (2004 estimate). The total urban area
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
including Kalinkavičy across the river has a population of 150,000. Mazyr is known as a center of oil refining, machine building, and food processing in Belarus. It is home to one of the largest oil refineries
Oil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
in Belarus, pumping out 18 million metric tons per year. The Druzhba pipeline
Druzhba pipeline
The Druzhba pipeline is the world's longest oil pipeline and in fact one of the biggest oil pipeline networks in the world. It carries oil some from the eastern part of the European Russia to points in Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Germany...
carries crude oil from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
splitting in two at Mazyr. One pipeline branch is directed into Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and the other one to Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.
The right bank of the Pripyat River
Pripyat River
The Pripyat River or Prypiat River is a river in Eastern Europe, approximately long. It flows east through Ukraine, Belarus, and Ukraine again, draining into the Dnieper....
, where the city is located, is elevated above the left bank at substantial heights (up to 80 m). The overfall of surface of that scale is assumed to be a consequence of a glaciation: the Pripyat River
Pripyat River
The Pripyat River or Prypiat River is a river in Eastern Europe, approximately long. It flows east through Ukraine, Belarus, and Ukraine again, draining into the Dnieper....
is running right along the edge where an ancient glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
was located. Since both banks of the river are sandy, the right bank is cut through by a number of great ravine
Ravine
A ravine is a landform narrower than a canyon and is often the product of streamcutting erosion. Ravines are typically classified as larger in scale than gullies, although smaller than valleys. A ravine is generally a fluvial slope landform of relatively steep sides, on the order of twenty to...
s (more than 2.5 km length, up to 200 m width). The city is also located on the ravines, so its streets look much like streets of a mountain town. One of the ravines is proclaimed a reserve. Some of the nearby ravines are currently also equipped with ski lifts and transformed into skiing winter resorts.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, many Jews were executed by the Nazis in Mazyr. There are several memorials devoted to this in the modern city. As with other Soviet cities, during approximately the last 15 years of the Communist control, a large proportion of the remaining Jews have relocated abroad, mostly to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and USA.
In 1986, the city suffered from heavy radioactive fallout
Nuclear fallout
Fallout is the residual radioactive material propelled into the upper atmosphere following a nuclear blast, so called because it "falls out" of the sky after the explosion and shock wave have passed. It commonly refers to the radioactive dust and ash created when a nuclear weapon explodes...
from the Chernobyl accident.
History
Mazyr is one of the oldest cities of historical RutheniaRuthenia
Ruthenia is the Latin word used onwards from the 13th century, describing lands of the Ancient Rus in European manuscripts. Its geographic and culturo-ethnic name at that time was applied to the parts of Eastern Europe. Essentially, the word is a false Latin rendering of the ancient place name Rus...
. First mentioned in mid-12th century as part of Duchy of Vladimir, and then the Duchy of Kiev. In 13th century it was conquered by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
. Initially a small settlement, in 15th century it was donated to Duke Michał Gliński
Michael Glinski
Michael Glinski was a noble from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania of distant Tatar extraction who was also a tutor of his nephew, Ivan the Terrible. As a young man, Glinski served in the court of Emperor Maximilian I and earned distinction for his military service. Around 1498 he returned to Lithuania...
, who converted it into a town. The city received town rights (Magdeburg Law) first from king Stefan Batory
Stefan Batory
Stephen Báthory was a Hungarian noble Prince of Transylvania , then King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania . He was a member of the Somlyó branch of the noble Hungarian Báthory family...
in 1577 and then from king Sigismund III of Poland in 1609. Despite having been destroyed by Russian forces twice (in 1525 and 1654), the city continued to grow and following the Union of Lublin
Union of Lublin
The Union of Lublin replaced the personal union of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with a real union and an elective monarchy, since Sigismund II Augustus, the last of the Jagiellons, remained childless after three marriages. In addition, the autonomy of Royal Prussia was...
it became a major administrative and trade centre, as well as a seat of a powiat
Powiat
A powiat is the second-level unit of local government and administration in Poland, equivalent to a county, district or prefecture in other countries. The term powiat is most often translated into English as "county", although other terms are also sometimes used...
("county" office and court). Between 1723 and 1726 the Jesuits created a school in Mozyr under auspice of the Academy of Vilna
Vilnius University
Vilnius University is the oldest university in the Baltic states and one of the oldest in Eastern Europe. It is also the largest university in Lithuania....
. Following the suppression of the order in 1773 the school was secularised and continued to exist as a gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
. Among its most famous graduates are Edward Piekarski (linguist) and Władysław Mazurkiewicz (physician).
In 1793, following the Partitions of Poland
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
, the town was annexed by Russia and its town rights were again confirmed in 1795. In 19th century the town grew rapidly, mostly because of the Russian Pale of Settlement
Pale of Settlement
The Pale of Settlement was the term given to a region of Imperial Russia, in which permanent residency by Jews was allowed, and beyond which Jewish permanent residency was generally prohibited...
policy that allowed Jews to settle only in the lands once held by the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Because of that Mozyr grew to over 10 thousand inhabitants by the end of the century, most of them Jewish.
During the Polish-Soviet War
Polish-Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War was an armed conflict between Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine and the Second Polish Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic—four states in post–World War I Europe...
of 1920 the town was captured by the Polish Army in the so-called Mozyr Operation. Polish 9th Infantry Division captured the city in a swift and daring manoeuvre that earned its commanding officer, Col. Władysław Sikorski (later Prime Minister of Poland) a promotion to general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
. In the course of the war the town was briefly recaptured by the Bolshevists, but in the aftermath of the battle of Warsaw
Battle of Warsaw (1920)
The Battle of Warsaw sometimes referred to as the Miracle at the Vistula, was the decisive battle of the Polish–Soviet War. That war began soon after the end of World War I in 1918 and lasted until the Treaty of Riga resulted in the end of the hostilities between Poland and Russia in 1921.The...
it was again recaptured by the Polish forces of Gen. Stanisław Bułak-Bałachowicz, who proclaimed a short-lived Belarusian People's Republic on November 12, 1920. However, in the Riga Peace Treaty it was assigned to Bolshevist Russia and became part of the Belarussian SSR. Since 1938 the town was a seat of Polesie region, however in 1954 it lost that status and was administratively attached to the region of Homyel
Homyel
Gomel ; also Homiel, Homel is the administrative center of Gomel Voblast and the second-largest city in Belarus. It has a population of 482,652...
.
Population
| Year | Jewish population | Total Population | % Jewish | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1897 | 5631 | 8076 | 69.73% | Russian Census of 1897 |
| 1927 | ~6000 | 14300 | 42% | Soviet Census of 1927 |
| 1939 | 6307 | 17500 | 36.04% | Jewish population just before World War II World War II World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... |
| 1970 | 4300 | 48000 | 8.96% | Soviet Census of 1970. Population fell due to Holocaust and migration to bigger cities as Minsk Minsk - Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened... , Moscow Moscow Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent... and Leningrad Leningrad Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province... after WWII |
| 1979 | 3600 | 105882 | 3.40% | Soviet Census of 1979. Jewish population fell due to Emigration of Soviet Jews to Israel Israel The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea... and USA |
| 1989 | 3200 | 128000 | 2.50% | Soviet Census of 1989. Jewish population fell due to Emigration of Soviet Jews to Israel Israel The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea... and USA |
| 1999 | 565 | 114000 | 0.50% | Jewish population fell due to Emigration of Soviet Jews to Israel Israel The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea... and USA |
| 2004 | <500 | 111500 | 0.45% |
Educational Center
- I.P. Shamyakin State Pedagogical Institute
- State Politehnikum(Technical Colledge)
- Medical Colledge
- Music Colledge
- Art School
- State Litsey
- Gomel State School of Olimpic Reserve
Controversy and "Katzmanaft"
In 2008 patients of the Mazyr mental hospitalMental Hospital
Mental hospital may refer to:*Psychiatric hospital*hospital in Nepal named Mental Hospital...
were spotted on camera playing a game of Russian roulette
Russian roulette
Russian roulette is a potentially lethal game of chance in which participants place a single round in a revolver, spin the cylinder, place the muzzle against their head and pull the trigger...
in the yard. One patient was killed, causing a lot of controversy about how they were able to access the gun. Police investigation resulted in uncovering one of the biggest in history network of arms dealers founded in 1995 by Viktor Bout
Viktor Bout
Viktor Anatolyevich Bout is a convicted arms smuggler. A citizen of Russia, he was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and was extradited in 2010 to the United States to stand trial on terrorism charges after being accused of smuggling arms to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia to use against...
. The dealers posed as mentally disabled and therefore could hardly be suspected in any criminal activity, and even if uncovered, could not be legally responsible or brought to court due to mental disability. One of the major weaknesses of the organization, known as "Katzmanaft", is that some members, while posing as being demented, are affected psychologically which results in the incidents such as happened in Mazyr mental hospital. Security guards were then questioned about the incident, but were not charged. It is also believed that the mental home is haunted and the local council is planning on closing it down.
International Festival 'Hey, Rocknem!'
Mozyr is a capital of a modern rock music of Gomel region, where since 2003 International Festival of Music is taking place. Among sponsors of the Festival are Oil Refining Plant,beer brewery 'Речицкое пиво', multimedia company 'Fotolux' and MinskMinsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
newspaper 'Znamya Yunosti' (Russian:Знамя Юности). Up to forty rock bands take stage in what become major cultural event. Local band Otrazhenie
Otrazhenie (band)
Otrazhenie was a Belarusian heavy metal band from the city of Mozyr,the first professional independent Belarusian rock band whose music and lyrics inspired and instigated birth and development of Belorussian rock music....
(Reflection), a pioneer and a leader of Belorussian Hard Rock is a constant participant and a contributor to the festival.
Notable residents
- George de MohrenschildtGeorge de MohrenschildtGeorge de Mohrenschildt was a petroleum geologist and professor who befriended Lee Harvey Oswald in the summer of 1962 and maintained that friendship until Oswald's death two days after the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. He had personal acquaintance with the Bush family,...
- geologist and friend of Lee Harvey OswaldLee Harvey OswaldLee Harvey Oswald was, according to four government investigations,These were investigations by: the Federal Bureau of Investigation , the Warren Commission , the House Select Committee on Assassinations , and the Dallas Police Department. the sniper who assassinated John F... - Isaac Don LevineIsaac Don LevineIsaac Don Levine was a Russian-born American journalist and writer.-Biography:Born in Mozyr, Russia, Levine came to the United States in 1911. He finished high school in Missouri, and found work with The Kansas City Star and later The New York Herald Tribune, for which he covered the revolution of...
was born there
External links
- Satellite photo of Mazyr (from Google Maps). Ravines can be seen very clearly.
- Mazyr town at Radzima.org
- FC Slavia-Mozyr Official Site - www.slaviya.info
- FC Slavia - www.slavia-mozyr.com
- Сайт горада Мазыр
- Cities of Belarus:Mozyr
- International Festival 'Hey, Rocknem!'