Ryhor Baradulin: “To rename Skaryna Avenue means to trample on nation’s feelings” :: Charter'97 :: News

Deputies of Minsk city council have approved the decision to rename the street, which had been named 25 years ago Newspaper “Izvestia” Avenue as Newspaper “Zvyazda” Avenue. According to Minsk political analysts, the reason for this move is ideological preferences of the head of state. However, according to the current legislation, responsibilities to rename regions, districts cities and city districts are appertaining to his position. “To rename the Avenue of “Izvestya” Newsppaer to Zvyazda” newspaper is a mockery. There is no such work “Zvyazda” in Belarusian language, only “zorka” (a star). Everything Belarusian is eradicated in the country, the language is faced with extinction. The Belarusian schools, newspapers are being closed. And all of a sudden such a contrast “Izvestiya”- and “Zvyazda”. And the fact that the central avenue of Belarusian capital, Skaryna Avenue, has been renamed, is a spit at the nation’s soul. And what about Masherau’s Avenue?! Masherau was a partisan, a war hero. This name hinders Lukashenka, as Belarus had a good name in Masherau’s times. And now people mostly laugh at Belarus,” commented People’s Poet of Belarus Ryhor Baradulin on the latest novelties in the streets names in Minsk.

The editorial office of the “Zvyazda”, (newspaper founders are the “council of republic” of the “national assembly of Belarus” and the Council of Ministers) addressed the authorities many times and asked to immortalize their brand. And at last their request has been heard. It is worth mentioning that the name of “Izvestiya” has been sacrificed, while the “Pravda” Avenue, as well as dozens of the streets named in honour of Communist leaders: Kirov, Lenin, Marx, Kalinin, Sverdlov, Engels, remain on the map of the city.