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“2017 will be a year of radical changes in Belarus”

“2017 will be a year of radical changes in Belarus”
Photo: charter97.org

Website Charter97.org awarded the 2016 Viktar Ivashkevich National Human Rights Award.

The ceremony took place on February 25th in Warsaw, where the website is currently operating in exile. The winners of the awards were: a leader of the group „Krama” Ihar Varashkevich, one of the founders of the movement „Zubr” and organization „Krai” and a prezent volunteer in Ukraine Vadzim Kabanchuk, a journalist of the newspaper „Nasha Niva” Yahor Martsinovich and a renowned economist Leanid Zlotnikau.

When opening the ceremony, the chief editor of Charter97.org Natalia Radzina presented the winners of the National Human Rights Award 2016 and said:

“The award, founded by „Charter-97”, is the oldest human rights prize in Belarus. Since 1998, this award has been presented to more than a hundred of brave, resolute, courageous people, who defend human rights and struggle for freedom and better future of our country.

Unfortunately, once again, we cannot hold a ceremony in Minsk. However, looking at how early „Belarusian Spring” began this year and how many Belarusians began to openly protest against the dictatorship and took to the streets, I hope very much that Belarus will soon be free”.

Chief editor of Charter97.org Natalia Radzina

Award to Yahor Martsinovich was handed by the director of the famous Polish publishing house KARTA and one of the leaders of the “Solidarity” trade union Zbigniew Gluz, who was invited by Natalia Radzina on behalf of the „Charter 97”.

“It is a special honor for me to present the award to the journalist of „Nasha Niva”. Exactly with this periodical we started working 20 years ago. Then, in 1996, we arrived in Minsk; in the city there were events that subsequently went down in history as the “hot-spring of 1996”. Together, we published a book in which we described in detail everything that happened in the streets of Minsk. This book was a real manifesto of freedom. Tragically, at that time no one fully realized what the Lukashenka’s regime can lead us to.

It is an honor for me to collaborate with the Belarusian initiative and the website „Charter 97”, successors to the Czechoslovak „Charter 77”. This year, the Belarusian „Charter” celebrates its 20th anniversary since the founding, and I think that this year could be a year for radical changes.

I would like to wish the people of Belarus that 2017 would be a year of major changes in the country's history. Exactly such people as our laureates, their actions, hasten these changes and make them real”,- said Zbigniew Gluz.

Yahor Martsinovich and Zbigniew Gluz

Yahor Martsinovich, thanking for the award, said:

“As a journalist, I have been covering all the recent “elections” and I can assure everyone that no fundamental change took place, there was no fair vote counting. Why did I appear at the polling station, where I wrote the article I am awarded for? Because it was a unique situation when the idyll prevailed throughout the whole early voting: not only observers, but also members of the commission were working honestly. This strange situation could not fail to attract attention, and I hoped that something could happen out of it. However, at 20:00, as soon as the doors were closed - liberalization as always turned into a pumpkin. Again, the observers were removed and updated figures appeared in the protocols.

A few years ago we did a great biographical material about the head of The Central Election Commission Lidziya Yarmoshyna. That article was called „Person of the Epoch”(„Tvar epohі”). She then was very offended by the presentation of information. But, in my opinion, this definition is extremely accurate, as exactly this face (tvar – in Belarusian), over the past 20 years, through teachers and other state employees, with a cynical smile, was making a choice, not allowing millions of other Belarusians to participate in it. For me, it absolutely does not matter whether these votes were stolen in favor of the Democratic candidate, as happened last year, or in favor of the pro-government, as it was for all those years. In any case, theft – is a theft, it is a criminal offense, regardless of the purpose for which it has been carried out”.

Yahor Martsinovich

Award for the Belarusian volunteer Vadzim Kabanchuk was handed by the legendary leader of the Polish underground „Solidarity” Zbigniew Bujak.

“Although such a country as the Soviet Union does not exist on the world stage anymore, there is still some kind of common destiny and solidarity among the countries of the former communist bloc. The fact that Vadzim Kabanchuk is fighting for freedom and independence of Ukraine has touched my heart. In our time, a slogan „For our and your freedom!” has became relevant again. For me, it is symbolic that my relative, a Pole, who is fighting in Ukraine, is also named Vadim.

Our Laureate is a Christian Democrat by his political views. Vadzim considers himself a conservative, for me, this is also of great significance and meaning. I am currently doing research in the field of reforms. And for me it is clear that real reforms are not possible without three components: liberal, social democratic and conservative. If any one component is missing, then reforms fail, and the state is doomed to internal conflicts. Conservatism prioritizes a country and people living in it. I would like Vadzim to continue developing in this direction. We live in a free European realities, where concepts of borders and nation-states are erased. It gave life to liberal values and freedom, gave people the opportunity to grow, to move freely and to choose the country in which they would like to live. However, apart from the elites, for whom open borders are so important, an absolute majority, in spite of everything, will stay in their home towns, villages, in their native lands. They will remain citizens of their country, they will cultivate their traditions and customs. These are conservative values in a broad sense. When people forget this - serious problems appear. So I would like to wish Vadzim to remain loyal to his ideals and values”, - said Zbigniew Bujak.

Zbigniew Bujak and Vadzim Kabanchuk

Vadim Kabanchuk, who came to the awarding ceremony from the Donbass, said that recently more and more Belarusians are travelling to defend Ukraine:

“I am very pleased to receive the award of „Charter-97” from the hands of esteemed Zbigniew Bujak, who I met in 2014 at the Independence Square in Kiev. I myself came to Ukraine immediately after the victory of the Maidan in March 2014. I will not cheat, I went there with some romantic mood. I was travelling there as an ideological pragmatist, because I saw what Ukrainian situation was leading to and I understood that there would be a war with Russia. Today, this war has affected the lives of thousands, and perhaps tens of thousands of people who are both in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia.

We started our way as volunteers: we brought our first cargo to the Pisky village, which is located near the Donetsk airport. Over time, we got to know the guys who were fighting there and joined them. They were Ukrainian volunteers and a group of Belarusians, who also began to fight as part of Ukrainian volunteers (some of whom are still fighting, some have gone on longer contracts with Armed Forces of Ukraine). Unfortunately, several people from the tactical group „Belarus” have died or been injured. So far they have not been properly commemorated in Ukraine, but their names are known there, and I think someday we will honor them also in Belarus.

An interesting trend is observed in recent years. A new wave of volunteers goes from Belarus. The first such wave was in 2014. We do not know exactly what it is connected to, but I think that people in Belarus are beginning to realize the danger that Belarus faces. Perhaps we, in Belarus, will also have to fight for our freedom. I am proud that the Belarusian guys are in Ukraine, thereby destroying the myth of gentle, tolerant Belarusians, who cannot fight for themselves, for their country, for their families. For our and your freedom!”

Vadzim Kabanchuk

Well-known economist Leanid Zlotnikau received the prize in the nomination „For loyalty to the principles” from the hands of one of the managers of Kalinowski program at the University of Warsaw, former Polish Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Armenia and the Deputy Ambassador of Poland to Russia Victor Ross.

“Leanid Zlotnikau – is an author of many scientific papers, an excellent teacher, a businessman. But, unfortunately, his great scientific experience is neglected in Belarus. People who cooperate with him are subjected to various types of repression. I am very glad that Leanid came to our country and is able to share his experiences with the Poles. Unfortunately, we have a lot of confusion and poor understanding of what is really going on in Belarus. I would say, our knowledge is superficial. Visitors to Minsk see only the external attributes, while what is really going on in the economy, social sphere, strategic lines, that subsequently affect the development of the state - is unnoticed. It is therefore very important that such a person as Leanid publishes his articles and sheds light on the events in the nearest for us neighboring country, in which, I hope, a real change will happen in the near future.

The Polish government is now looking for some common ground with Lukashenka's regime and tries to support it. We, academics and former politicians, warn them that a dialogue with the regime is possible only under the condition that real steps on democratization of the society take place.

If the regime starts walking the path of the reforms, the dialogue will be possible in the economy, politics, culture and other spheres. I would like to once again thank the esteemed Leanid Konstantinovich and present him this award. And I would like to finish with the folk proverbs: „little goes a long way” (an English equivalent).

Leanid Zlotnikau and Victor Ross

Leanid Zlotnikau said that as an economist he is now „fighting for the minds” in Belarus:

“My fate hasn’t spoiled me with prizes and awards. I grew up in the Soviet Union, even at the university I participated in the activities that the government did not encourage. I remember when I, as a deputy secretary of the Komsomol, „rescued” one Estonian student from the expulsion from the university. Since childhood, I have been wondering: what is happening, how, why, and so on. And I am a member of an ideological struggle. You are at the forefront, as they say, but someone has to fight also for brains.

For a long time I am thinking of publishing a couple of popular books just to teach people who do not understand what is happening around. Economics – is the most important area in this fight. It is difficult to demonstrate what in fact would be if for 30 years of living you eat only blood and for 300 years – carrion, and each has its own principles. But we, economists, can say: well, these principles will be implemented, but people will be sick and hungry. The economy is able to convincingly demonstrate what principles should prevail”.

Leanid Zlotnikau

Prize to the leader of the „Krama” Ihar Varashkevich was handed by the leader of civil campaign „European Belarus” Andrei Sannikov.

“Last year „Krama” celebrated its 25th anniversary. I saw the broadcast of this November concert - the most powerful energy, I was impressed that so many young people came there. Not everyone knows that Varashkevich is also a very interesting artist. I would like to congratulate him on his participation in the exhibition, which will take place in March in Minsk.

I want to mention only two things. Firstly, Varashkevich and „Krama” – is a sign of quality. All the song they create – are the examples of musical, emotional and performing excellence. Second most important thing for me is his loyalty to traditions. Ihar Varashkevich did everything in order to ensure that the world rock music took root in Belarus and that we had the same rock that had changed the world and still retains a huge potential of resistance to tyranny and artificiality. In Belarus, it is Ihar Varashkevich and „Krama” who comprehended this music and made it their own, and therefore ours - Belarusian. And for that, I think, Ihar Varashkevich is already included in the World Hall of Rock Fame.

For me and, I think, for all of us, Ihar Varashkevich - is the embodiment of the very Belarus where I and all of us would like to live - free, with a strong global and European traditions, able to change and create constructively, not destructively. Therefore I am saying: Long live Ihar Varashkevich! Long live Belarus!”, - Andrei Sannikov said.

Ihar Varashkevich and Andrei Sannikov

Ihar Varashkevich wished that Charter97.org website could soon award the prize at home:

“Traditionally, we always should thank our parents, but my father died a long time ago, in that hard and fatal for Belarus and for the „Krama” year - 1996. But my father passed me love for Belarus, for the native land, and, through the rock music, I try to convey this love to all people.

I am awarded in Poland, unfortunately, not in Belarus, but for me it is a definite sign, as I came to the Belarusian rock music through the Polish rock of the period of “Martial Law”. Returning from the army in the early 1980s, I started listening to «Perfect», «Lady Pank», «Republika», «Oddział Zamknięty». I began to sing in Belarusian thank to these groups and I love them very much today.

I am very happy to see all of you, who I have not seen for six years, and I wish you returned home this year. Long live Belarus!”.

Ihar Varashkevich

After the awarding ceremony, there was a concert of Ihar Varashkevich, where he performed his hits «Svabody mnie daj», «Budź razam z nami», «Sluckaja brama», «Biažy, biažy, chlopiec» and many others.

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