Artisitc Team Representing Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus Will Make Their Debut at the 2023 Spasskaya Tower Festival

A big artistic team representing the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) of Belarus will for the first time take part in the Spasskaya Tower International Military Tattoo unfolding on Moscow’s Red Square between August 26 and September 3. This time Belarus will bring to the Festival the Exemplary Band and the Song and Dance Ensemble of the MVD Internal Troops, as well as the Honor Guard Unit of the Third Special Task Brigade of the MVD Internal Troops.

“Every year we welcome participants from the Belarus Republic, our brother nation and partner. It’s already become one of the Festival’s long-standing traditions. But this time we are going to see an artistic team representing the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs making their debut on the cobblestones of Red Square. The Exemplary Band along with the Song and Dance Ensemble of the MVD Internal Troops plan to stun the crowds with an exhilarating performance seasoned with some exquisite arm drilling and trooping skills of the Honor Guard Unit. I’ll also take you into confidence and trust with a secret. This year we are looking forward to meeting guests from all over the globe, but to learn more I invite you to monitor our official website, spasstower.ru”, noted Mr Sergey Smirnov, Director of the Spasskaya Tower International Cultural Center.

The Exemplary Band of the MVD Internal Troops of the Belarus Republic has a proud history stretching back to July 1945, when its predecessor, the Military Band of the 21st Motorized Rifle Unit of the USSR NKVD Convoy Division, was formed in Minsk. In 1992, with the Soviet Union collapsing the ensemble was reorganized but managed to preserve its unique character and performing style. Three years later, in 1995, the band got its present name and the lineup we are all familiar with today.

Featuring fifty professional musicians, the ensemble takes part in major cultural and socially relevant events held all across Belarus. Their repertoire is based upon military and patriotic music pieces promoting ideology of the country’s statehood, but also includes some of the finest compositions by national and international authors.

The band’s musicians have already toured around Europe, visiting France, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Germany, and the UK, and successfully performed at various music festivals, held, among others, in St Petersburg, Tambov, Arkhangelsk, Severodvinsk and Perm.

On the helm of the band today is Colonel Sergey Solodukhin, Head of the Military Band Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Internal Troops and Chief Military Conductor. As the artistic director he leads his team to new professional achievements and triumph. Alongside him works Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Syaber who is the band’s master.

The Honor Guard of the 3214 Military Unit is a regular division of the Internal Troops of the Belarus Ministry of Internal Affairs, and is entrusted to be one of the country’s hallmarks. Its activities largely focus on performing various ceremonial duties, as well as taking part in military parades and all major official events happening both within the country and Belarus Ministry of Internal Affairs. The unit is led by Captain Andrey Mazur.

To distinguish the Honor Guard Unit of the Belarus MVD Internal Troop, just have a look at the color of their uniform, either dark blue or olive, and insignia. The unit’s lineup is made up mainly of conscripts who are physically strong, with their height being between 185 and 190 cm.

Performance-wise, the Honor Guard Unit is famous for their impressive platz or open air ground concerts as well as exquisite arm drilling skills using sabres and Simonov SKS carabines. It takes around four months to develop and then train a program. Handled with seeming lightness the Simonov SKS carabines weigh about four kilos. They are no longer used in the regular army but to honor the long-standing military traditions. The Honor Guard Unit has already traveled abroad showcasing their striking skills in China, France, Qatar, Poland, Russia, the UAE, and Venezuela.

Belarus will also bring to Moscow’s Spasskaya Tower Festival the Song and Dance Ensemble of the MVD Internal Troops led by Lieutenant Colonel Anton Markelov.

The ensemble was awarded the title of Honored Ensemble of the Belarus Republic for its major arts achievements and relevant contribution to the development of national culture.

The Spasskaya Tower Festival is carried out following the Order of President of Russia Vladimir Putin under the patronage of the Public Council led by Mr Alexander Zhukov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, and with the continued support of the Russian Ministry of Defense.