MINSK, February 6 (RIA Novosti) – US broadcaster CNN apologized Thursday for including a World War II monument in Belarus on its list of the world’s ugliest monuments.
The Courage monument included in the list is located in Brest Fortress, the site of the first major fighting between Soviet forces and the German army in June 1941. Soviet soldiers fought desperately to defend the fortress for longer than expected, and it has since become a symbol of Soviet resistance during the war.
The remains of over 2,000 Soviet soldiers have been found in the fortress, though according to some estimates, more than 4,000 people died there.
“We understand that the inclusion of the Brest Hero-Fortress in this article from a contributor has caused offense in Belarus and Russia. This was unintended and we apologize,” an editor’s note added to the article reads.
“CNN recognizes that the monument is of solemn significance to many people honoring the sacrifice of soldiers,” the broadcaster said.
The much-loved Courage monument depicts an enormous Soviet soldier emerging from a vast mountain of stone.
CNN describes the statue as “giant, angry” and looking “as if he's about to thump the West into submission before hurling North America at the sun.” The author admitted, however, that: “It may not be beautiful but there's no denying its scale and significance.”
The description caused an outrage in Russia and Belarus.
“Such ‘ratings’ are unacceptable taking into consideration the historic significance of monuments. They offend memories of the perished one’s, and simply do not go along with normal human perception,” the Russian embassy in the United States said in an English-language statement.
“It’s a slap in our face – not only for Brest Fortress, but the whole of Belarus, the Union State and everyone who fought here. I get the feeling that it’s a deliberate provocation ahead of [next year’s] World War II anniversary,” Brest Fortress museum director Grigory Bysyuk said.
