Belarusian rock musician promised not to perform at oppositional actions

Groups Krama, N.R.M., Palats and Neuro Dubel had an appointment with deputy head of the presidential administration on ideology Aleg Pralyaskouski. He promised that the Belarusian rock musicians would be lifted an unofficial ban on concert organisation. In response he asked not to play at opposition actions.

About a month ago Igar Varashkevich, Lyavon Volski, Aleg Khamenka and Alyaksandr Kullinkovich received a phone call with the proposal to meet with deputy head of the presidential administration on ideology Aleg Pralyaskouski. The musicians agreed. They were promised to be phoned again to arrange the date. They received the second call only yesterday. Leaders of Krama, N.R.M. Palats and Neuro Dubel were said they would have an appointment in Karl Marx Street, 38 at 2.20 p.m. on Wednesday.

As Igar Varashkevich said to Euroradio just after the musicians left the Administration, they asked the deputy head of the president’s administration about the notorious secret “black lists”, which create problems with receiving of permissions for concerts organising. Aleg Pralyaskouski acknowledged the existence of such lists. But he promised to declare them invalid. The authorities won’t hinder the organisation of concerts any more. But time will be needed to get the new resolution across all officials.

“He promised, they wouldn’t prevent us from concerts organising. But, he said, time is needed, about one or two months, for the state machine calm down and work. There are many people in it,” Varashkevich said.

According to leader of Neuro Dubel Alyaksandr Kulinkovich, the deputy head of the President’s Administration suggested that BT (Belarusian state-run TV channel) would shot their concert. In order to show all the officials that there is no ban any more.

“He told that he will personally make arrangements to make such shooting. Allegedly, if we appear on BT, the ban would be gradually raised. Administration and the KGB (State Security Committee) would not bother us any more,” Kulinkovich said.

As said by Kulinkovich, musicians hadn’t been offered help for recording new albums or organizing costly tours over Belarus. But they asked musicians to meet one condition, not to perform at oppositional rallies.

“We have been said clearly: “Guys, please do not perform at oppositional meetings any more”. We said we won’t. And all of us said that, and these were absolutely sincere words,” Kulinkovich said.

The leadsinger of Neuro Dubel said that he had done that despite of the fact he dislikes the current regime, as he earnestly told to the deputy head of the presidential administration on ideology.

At the same time Alyaksandr Kulinkovich told to the Charter’97 press-center that he won’t perform at events of the regime. “We have a white-red-white, not red-green flag. They haven’t brought us to our knees. But in summer we met with Alyaksandr Milinkevich, and he hadn’t helped us at all… Pralyaskouski is a normal, adequate person,” Kulinkovich told to the Charter’97 press-center.