Leaders Of Free Belarus

On the eve of the Freedom Day, the charter97.org website held an awarding ceremony for the National Award for Protection of Human Rights named after Viktar Ivashkevich.

In 2015, the winner of the National Award in the nomination "For Personal Courage" were journalist Svetlana Kalinkina, former political prisoner Igor Olinevich, student initiative "Students Against", and "For Courage in Creative Art" - the band "Krambambulya".

Opening the ceremony, which took place on March 18 in Warsaw, the chief editor of charter97.org website Natallya Radzina said:

"We decided to present our award today, because in a few days, Belarus will celebrate the great holiday - the Day of Freedom. Belarusian People's Republic was founded on March 25. Thanks to the courage of people like Yazep Voronko, Kastus Yezovitov, Yan Sereda, Yazep Zakharko, today we have a country. Since then, almost 100 years have passed, but today, too, courageous and bold Belarusian patriots continue to fight for freedom, independence and democracy."

The editor in chief also recalled Viktar Ivashkevich, after whom the award was named. A leader of the Belarusian opposition, journalist and one of the founders of the civil initiative "Charter 97" died in 2013.

"I'll be honest -- I really love all the winners of the National Award. After all, if there are such heroes -- it means that in life there really is the truth, justice, honor, loyalty, and hope for the victory of good over evil, freedom over dictatorship," said Natallia Radzina.

"Being honest"

The leader of the Belarusian anarchists Igor Olinevich was held in prison for five years. After going through the torture, humiliation and forced labor of the Belarusian prison system, the anarchist stayed true to his principles and remained human. He also wrote a book in prison called "Going to Magadan" about the Belarusian GULAG of the XXI century. Everyone should read this book to understand the essence of the dictator Lukashenka -- his cowardice, meanness, and state management methods.

On behalf of charter97.org website, the award to Igor Olinevich was presented by Marek Bucko, representative of the foundation "Freedom and Democracy", which has been helping Belarusian political prisoners for many years:

"I am honored to give the award to Igor Olinevich today. In the 1980s, I also thought of myself as anarchist, however, I did not try to set the Russian Embassy in Warsaw on fire. I know that for anarchists the most important value is freedom. And I am glad that in Belarus there are people for whom freedom and dignity are the main values ​​that they will never betray.

I am sure that Russian imperialism eventually collapse, Lukashenka will go down in history, and the Freedom of the book remain. Remain Solzhenitsyn, Shalamov and other authors. Glad that you, Igor, have joined this great literature. You are a perfect example of how a person can maintain the dignity of the harsh conditions. For many Belarusians you - the object of respect and admiration. I want you to continue to have preserved freedom of spirit, remained true to his ideals and was an example for Belarus. "

"Thank you very much for the kind words. Of course now, after five years, everything is not perceived as emotionally as it used to. In the words of Solzhenitsyn, you cannot cry for everyone in the cemetery of the living, said Igor Olinevich. - In prison, I resented the torture, but I was even more outraged by the regime refusing to call its actions by the names they deserve. For them a jailer is the Department of Punishment Execution of the MIA, for them torture is following the prison regime and educational work, they called extortion voluntary donations.

I thought that if the regime is not shy about its methods, then let society evaluate them. And I decided to call the things their names in the book, for the society and future generations to know what is actually hidden behind the mask of the Belarusian dictatorship, which in every way is now trying to get out of isolation and to deserve the name of authoritarianism with a human face. Authoritarianism with a human face does not exist. Authoritarianism is always cruelty, lies, suppression, exploitation, enslavement, trampling of the dignity. I hope that in the very near future, we in Belarus will turn this page and will be able to ask questions to our tormentors from a large grandstand."

"Be leaders"

One of the best Belarusian journalists, Svetlana Kalinkina, remains true to her profession even during tough media censorship. Her assessment is honest and fair, her words are harsh, but accurate, therefore, everyone is afraid to fall under the sharp pen of the journalist -- both officials and the opposition. The award was given to Svetlana Kalinkina "For Personal Courage", because being an honest person and a truly independent journalist in a dictatorial Belarus is an act of courage.

"Today, Svetlana is hope for Belarusians. They no longer write their complaints to Lukashenka, because they know that it is in vain. They write to Svetlana in the newspaper "Narodnaya Volya", because they believe that she will understand and will do everything possible to help," said Natallia Radzina, presenting the laureate.

The award was presented by Svetlana Kalinkina by the legend of Polish resistance, leader of the Solidarity underground Zbigniew Bujak.

"I have known Natallia Radzina for a long time, and I try to notice in her actions and words the signs of time. She considers winners of this award to be great heroes.

If we look at Europe today, we will see millions of people storming its borders, wanting to be in one of the European countries. But what was so good in the government of these countries, that they now occupy such a high position? After all, they must have had as many heroes as our countries. And Natallia gave me an idea that these countries became great not only thanks to their heroes. They became prosperous thanks to the political and social leaders who laid the foundations of the statehood, democratic society and a successful economy.

I want to say that for the winners, this award is an obligation. You are the people who have distinguished yourself with fortitude and courage. Now Natallia Radzina puts in front of you a new task -- to be great leaders of Belarus," said Zbigniew Bujak.

Svetlana Kalinkina, in turn, said that the profession of a journalist today in Belarus is a huge moral responsibility.

"If you once chose this profession, by and large you chose between truth and lies. Such is the strange compulsory choice. Then you can deceive yourself: here I closed my eyes a little, and here I will slightly open one eye, and here I will write as someone will like, because do I need unnecessary problems? But when you start to do such overtures towards the profession, then I believe you betrayed it.

I'm not sure I can be proud of each of my articles -- just like everyone else, I get mistaken. I could write one thing and after some time change my mind. But everything I did was done sincerely.

I wish us all good news and I hope that we will hand over the Viktar Ivashkevich award in Belarus -- in the largest rooms, to the most worthy people, because there are a lot of worthy people in Belarus. I am proud today to be in such company," said Svetlana Kalinkina.

"Just to say: We disagree"

The street protest of the Belarusian State University students almost gave a heart attack not only to the main university rector's office, but to the whole regime. For two decades, the authorities have suppressed any protests, including the student ones, through arrests, expulsions from universities and dismissal of their members from work. However, using the fact that, in spite of all these crimes, Lukashenka's Belarus was included in the Bologna process, BSU students decided to fight for their rights. Today the whole world is watching young Belarusians, and the website charter97.org awarded them with the National Prize in the nomination "For Personal Courage".

During the ceremony, the student initiative was represented by an activist Ales Krot, and he received the award from Vladimir Lemesh -- one of the commanders of the legendary "Zubr" movement, an activist of the civil initiative "European Belarus":

"I am very pleased to have received the honor of handing the award to the initiative, which protects the rights of students. I was also once a student of the Belarusian university, and I know how difficult it is to combine social work and studies in Belarus. You are the real heroes -- despite all the threats, you are protecting the rights of students, you managed to hold a really cool street rally on December 2, and it is very difficult to do in our environment. Therefore, let your courage be an example to other students. I hope that you will be able to make a difference -- not students should be afraid of the university leadership, but vice versa -- the university management should respect the students and listen to your voice."

Ales Krot admitted that he does not consider the action of student initiative a heroic act, because students only voiced something they disagree with.

"We just said, that do not agree with what is happening at the university. We started with simple things -- protest against the paid exam retakes. Gradually, we developed a deeper thought that the students have the right to influence what is happening in the university, said the student activist. - And I thank the media because without their support we would not have such a successful campaign. Our initiative in any case does not cease its existence -- there are a lot of new ideas and formats. Thank you again for the award -- it was a great moral support for those students who organized the protest. This is an indication that there are people who share our idea. Long Live Belarus!"

The legendary Belarus "Krambambulya" group won the National Award in the category "For Courage in Creative Art". The iconic musician Lavon Volsky with talented colleagues Pavel Arakelyan, Ales Myshkevich, Pavel Mamonov, Andrei Yakubchik, Pavel Triput and others presented this year their latest album "Chyrvony Shtrahl", which became a real "Belarusian partisan manifesto." The group got into the "black list" of banned Belarusian bands, but still it remains, in the words of Lavon Volsky, "a light beam in the gloomy history of Belarus." Fans of the group hope that the information of the "Krambambulya" breakup is a partisan maneuver and it will remain at the forefront of the Belarusian musical front.

Unfortunately, due to the illness of the group frontman's wife Anna Volskaya, Lavon Volsky's could not attend the award presentation. Coordinator of the "European Belarus" campaign Zmitser Bandarenka, who was supposed to hand over the award, spoke about the participants of the famous musical group and their role in the struggle for an independent Belarus. In the 90s he worked with Lyavon Volsky at the legendary independent Belarusian "Radio 101.2", which was closed by the authorities.

"I can say a lot about Lavon Volsky -- he is constantly changing, he is always open to everything new. For me, Anna Volskaya is also an integral part of the band, the band's manager, who came up with the idea of ​​creating "Krambambulya".

I must mention Pavel Arakelian, who unfortunately could not come. I cut his interview from one of the Belarusian newspapers, and while I was in prison, it was all the time with me, inspired me to action.

Such people cannot make bad music, and I understand thousands of Belarusians, who come to "Krambambulya" concerts, in spite of the border, visa and other problems. Let us give them a good boost. Long Live Belarus! Long live Krambambulya!"

The ceremony also spoke president of the International Solidarity Fund, the former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Krzysztof Stanowski:

"Many thanks to charter97.org website. You must know and praise your heroes, and be sure to talk about them. After all, if your "president" or minister give out awards, you need to assemble a team and hand your awards to the worthy people. It is you who dictate who is worthy of gratitude, to whom you should pay attention to, who is a hero. Of course, sometimes, you find it difficult. But you have a huge responsibility for the fact that everyone knows about the people who are the most important for Belarus."

Words of support were also made by one of the leaders of Kastus Kalinouski program, former Deputy Ambassador of Poland to Russia, former Ambassador of Poland to Armenia and Moldova Victor Ross:

"I also want to congratulate the winners of this wonderful Viktor Ivashkevich Prize. This kind of relay passes the banner of struggle for freedom. From the older generation to the younger one, because among the winners of today, there are very young people who are the defenders of their country's independence.

I think about that part of the Polish scientific and political community, which is struggling as much as possible to support your struggle and creates opportunities for young Belarusians repressed by the regime to continue their studies in Poland. We expect that among them there will be many public figures, who will return to Belarus and will continue to fight. We tried to make every effort through diplomatic channels. We will do everything to make your work here successful."

National Award for the Protection of Human Rights was established by Charter'97 in 1998. Over the years, among its laureates were defenders of the tent camp on October Square in Minsk in March 2006, political prisoners Ales Bialiatski, Mikalai Statkevich, Alyaksandr Kazulin, Zmitser Dashkevich, Mikhail Marynich, Pavel Sevyarynets, Andrei Kim, Syarhei Parsyukevich, Uladzimir Yaramenok, Eduard Lobau, Vasily Parfiankou, the first leader of independent Belarus Stanislau Shushkevich, athlete, world champion of Muay Thai Vitaly Hurkou, an activist of the Belarusian independent Trade union Alena Zakhozhaya believers who participated in the hunger strike in support of "New Life" protestant church, the chairman of the parish committee of St. Joseph in Minsk Ivonna Matsukevich, human rights activist Valery Shchukin and Halina Yubko, the wife of the disappeared in Belarus opposition leaders and a journalist Iryna Krasouskaya, Zinaida Hanchar, Svyatlana Zavadskaya, wife of former political prisoner, Tatsyana Klimava-Leanovich, People's Artist of Belarus Zinaida Bandarenka, an opposition activist Uladzimir Pleshchanka, Kurapaty defenders, creative association "Pahonya", the Belarus Free Theatre, the musical group "Liapis Trubetskoy" and its leader Sergey Mikhalok, "the NRM", "Novae Neba", closed by the authorities Belarusian Humanities Lyceum of Yakub Kolas, journalists Andrzej Poczobut, Pavel Mazheika, Mikola Markevich, Viktar Ivashkevich, Lyubou Lunyova, Yuras Karmanau, Maryna Koktysh, Henadz Barbarych, Yulia Darashkevich, human rights activist Yana Palyakova, Tatsyana Novikava, union leader Henadz Fedynich, director Anton Tsyalezhnikau, Swedish pilots Tomas Mazetti, Per Cromwell and Hannah Frey, political prisoners on the "case of December 19", initiative "Vyzvalenne" and other well-known public figures, politicians, and journalists.