Vitsebsk ideologists scared by phrase “Be a Belarusian, Be a Winner”

A businessman from Vitsebsk told about how he tried to get permission for printing notebooks dedicated to the anniversary of Vorsha Battle.

A few days ago Uladzimir Ramanovich received a denial from the regional printing house. He described charter97.org about how the visit to the ideology department of the local executive committee took place, and whether it would be still possible to print the notebooks.

- After the talks with the printing house we visited the ideology department of Vitsebsk regional executive committee. State-owned enterprises, including printing houses, are usually subject to or controlled by such departments.

When we showed layouts to them, we were told that the design is certainly controversial, but as far as they are concerned, they do not see any problems for such notebooks to be printed, as there is nothing extremist in them. They recommended placing a brief account of the history of the Vorsha Battle and explanation of the symbols used on the notebook, so that it would really look like a historical one, and to avoid ambiguity.

- And what about facilitating publishing of the notebooks? They could do that by one phone call to the printing house.

- They said they could not call to the director of the printing house and say: “Hey, print it.” They said they do not have such influence, as it is an economic entity. But I was told straightforwardly that they understand both the CEO assistant of the printing house and me. They were especially “stressed” by the phrase “Be a Belarusian, be a winner”, which according to the ideology workers of the regional executive committee, could be treated as an appeal for new battles and wars. And possibly with Russia.

- Do the chief executives of the printing house know that there is no prohibition from the authorities?

- In half an hour I entered the same Vitsebsk regional printing house, to the same person, deputy CEO, who had refused. I told him that there are no obstacles, and there is no prohibition from the ideology department to print these notebooks. And instead of offering apologies and accepting the order, he said: “We cannot publish your notebooks due to technical problems.” Then I asked, when our other notebooks with a different design could be printed. The deputy CEO answered: “As soon as possible!” But in fact I was shown the door.

- What are you going to do? Where your notebooks will be published?

- We have asked all printing houses of Belarus. We would not like to go to Smolensk in order to print such a small quantity of notebooks, it is a different country, and expenses are unjustified. For today we are sending around orders with a layout attached, for such unpleasantness to be excluded. A printing house from Belarus has answered already, that the layout is alright, and they could manufacture it. And Hrodna printing house does not agree to print this exactly notebook with information about Vorsha Battle: the production manager has said that they agree to print official Belarusian symbols only. But negotiations are under way still.

- Do you plan to make your range of products with Belarusian symbols wider?

- Yes, we have already found an enterprise which is to produce our “Belarusian sweaters”. There will be two types of them: linen with cotton and wool with acrylic.

We remind that this summer Uladzimir Ramanovich decided to produce school supplies with Belarusian national symbols, however, as long as information about his civil initiative spread, with the help of charter97.org inter alia, the little business started to gain momentum and popularity. Now these notebooks are ordered across Belarus. Belarusians from Bialystok, London and Switzerland are interested by them as well.