Symbols

Heraldic symbols of Brest Oblast

As part of the common cultural heritage of the nation, the coat of arms is a monument of history and culture. The territorial coat of arms and flag represent a sign of an administrative-territorial unit or a historical region within a state. The official symbols include coats of arms and flags of the currently existing administrative-territorial units, which, according to the current legislation, have local governments. The territorial coat of arms in this case embodies the right of the territory to a certain level of self-government just as the state emblem and flag express the idea of state sovereignty.

Belarus President Decree No.441 of 7 August 2002 stipulates that coats of arms and flags of administrative-territorial units are established by the president of the Republic of Belarus in accordance with the procedure established by law after passing the mandatory heraldic examination.

The official heraldic symbols of Brest Oblast were established by Belarus President Decree No.446 of 14 September 2004.

Description of the draft emblem and flag of Brest Oblast

The idea of the coat of arms and the flag is based on the history of our region. Important historical events, the peculiarity of the geographical location, the wealth of the region are reflected in the existing historical coats of arms of the cities located on the territory of the present-day Brest Oblast.

Fortifications in the Brest border land played a huge role throughout the history of the region. Some of them are well preserved to this day and are the hallmark of Brest Oblast. Based on the historically developed coats of arms of Brest Oblast, the lower part of the Spanish shield is made in red and ends with the form of a defensive structure - symbolizing the courage, valor, fearlessness of the peoples living in this territory. The national park Belovezhskaya Pushcha with its relict forests is located in the center of Europe and represents a precious biosphere reserve while the local bisons are the pride of these forests. In the center of the red field of the shield there is a golden bison, which symbolizes strength and greatness of the Brest land (Berestye in the past). The upper, smaller part of the shield is blue. It symbolizes beauty and clarity.

As a derivative of the coat of arms the flag repeats the former’s colors and symbols.