Elected politician believes no need to know Belarusian

Deputy Mikalai Rasokha had a meeting with citizens in Mozyr on February 17.

Uladzimer Tseliapun, a local civil right activist, joined the meeting to try to inform him about a number of problems, Viasna Civil Right Center reports.

According to human rights activist, earlier a local newspaper and TV channel highlighted future event. "But less than ten people decide to meet with the Deputy to share their problems with. And it's given that some came there by 2-3 people with the Head of the housing and utilities administration. Either our citizens do not have problems or they do not believe that the Deputy may decide something", Uladzimer Tseliapun noted.

He was the last to meet with the Deputy. "I was interested in what the Deputy of the supreme legislative body of the country thought about problems in our city: preservation of historical monuments in Mozyr and discrimination of Belarusian language in state institutions and on pages of a local newspaper Zhyzn Polesia (Polesie's Life)", the civil right activist added.

He informed the Deputy about Mozyr citizens' meeting concerned with the state of a remarkable monument of early XX century, created by the unknown master and located in Mozyr in Ryzhkova Street, 11. Unfortunately, this masterpiece of Belarusian architecture, which is absolutely unique in the country, sank into decay. In 2008 it was on the list of the State list of historical and cultural heritage. The building is owned by a commercial entity, and it is threatened with extinction. The participants of the meeting worried about the monument addressed a letter to Jauhen Adamenka, the Chairman of the Mozyr District Executive Committee, to find out ways to save the building.

Human rights activist asked Mikalai Rasokha to participate in further fate of historic values of the city and to contribute to a positive solution of existing problems on the state level.

"The Deputy welcomed the initiative and promised to contribute to a positive solution for the conservation of historical monuments in Mozyr after a more detailed examination of the issue. But the language issue remained unsolved. It turned down that the Deputy could not speak the national language fluently. He said that although answers were written in Belarusian, the law on civil service did not intend such rule during the conversation. This is the position of a people's candidate", Uladzimer Tseliapun stressed.