Professor Andrei Kalyada: “I have supported most reliable and serious candidate

A well-known Belarusian translator, a former vice-principal of the Academy of Arts, has joined the initiative group of Andrei Sannikov.

“I have decided to support Andrei Sannikov. I know him since childhood. He is a grandson of an artistic director of our actors’ class of Minsk Theatre and Arts Institute, Konstantin Sannikov. I knew Andrei’s father Oleg Sannikov, an outstanding theatre critic, well. We were friends.

When I was a vice-principal of the Academy of Arts, I organized a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Konstantin Sannikov, and then I met an adult, serious Andrei. I got to know him as a conscientious, reliable in all spheres, goal-oriented person. When he puts hand to the plow, I know that the positive result is sure to be achieved. We met often in recent years. I am certain now that Sannikov can do a lot of useful things for the country, many things that should have been done much earlier. A serious argument for me is also that he is a supporter of Belarusian language and culture. Andrei has understanding of the core of this issue as an innate part of his personality. It’s a disgrace that Belarusian language is in such a doghouse in Belarus today. Sannikov is the most reliable, serious and compelling candidature. I am sure that people will support him,” Andrei Kalyada said in an interview to charter97.org.