Kasya Kamotskaya: “It’s a dialogue of a cat and a mouse”

What is the attitude of other musicians who are not favoured by the regime either towards the visit of “mistreated” rock-musicians to the deputy head of the Presidential Administration Aleh Pralyaskouski?

Kasya Kamotskaya, Novae Neba group lead singer, who had won the title “Rok-knyazyouna” (“Rock-princess”) several times, believes that this action of the musicians should not be too exaggerated. In an interview to Radio Svaboda she said:

“Certainly, my attitude towards this is negative and extremely skeptic. But let them have it on their conscience. What can I say? It is called a dialogue of a cat with a mouse.

- Is there any use in discussing the matter with this regime?

- There is no use, to my mind. Maybe politicians, producer should talk to them, not musicians. They have absolutely different functions.

- Could we hope that they will be really given venues for concerts after this conversation?

- Ok, let them receive venues. They will sing, censoring themselves internally. They will sing only what would please the authorities. Why not? As I have said, it’s a dialogue of a cat and a mouse.

Alyaksandr Rakavets, a leader of the rock-group IQ-48, believes that mutual understanding should be looked for. If no steps would be taken, nothing would come out of that.

- It would be good. It seems to me, there are no other conclusions. It is normal if something would come out of it, some good cause. I couldn’t say there is something bad in that. Well done!

- And do you think it’s possible to find understanding wit this regime?

- Well, what kind of mutual understanding is meant by you… We should simply find some way out from this situation, so there could be something good out of it. And if we are sitting and doing nothing, nothing will come out of it.

Svyatlana Suhaka, a former soloist of Tarpach group, Free Theatre producer:

“It all seems odd and perverted to me. Really perverted. And there is some sophisticated game on Praleskouski’s side, to my mind. Everything is not that simple as he says. But it is unpleasant for me, and moreover I feel ashamed for all musicians. What would it be? Corrected texts? Who will need them? Every person should first of all have one’s stand as a citizen. And when the guys are saying that we shouldn’t perform under any flags, so maybe we shouldn’t play at all? I feel really ashamed for all musicians”.