Belarus (magazine #8 2018) by BELARUS Magazine

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No. 8 (1019), 2018 Беларусь. Belarus

belarus Politics. Economy. Culture

ISSN 2415-394X

Paintings, happiness and multi-coloured days

Newspaper from Belarus

Голас Радзімы edition of the “Голас Радзімы” is available at www.zviazda.by

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А а — шэ ат ь..к.атні ста цвшэн а лім кроў зве енажцый, лі…кбы ы ьті цзковаіўшыных і Лях ру піс нфальк н екл тамі,се свя іх ра а і прыехаў на хаНарод ф а наПга н “ВФ” а вена ра сяб Тадасаці н ды смееху ракмі з розных. запра і. н а” дый п тамі віч ра ран тэ а іч зве“Ця ьм такіх ло рн ав , ня гісэмо зня Філ бац тлів ла, ю т “выб ле, У сяб ам урэш так с у ельн ой ый ва у м ас я, ме ру вязд пат га іс сет ойчы дома алле 8 на, Аю б пр я: ля лер’я ў на запра й біб віцда су енвішнёввым лра па нас ча , лі р у уро з ках. кр прэч час ання суч ашы раз у краін. ла ьм ько ы чс пі в р а Зазтым кшчод пра- ыхт тых с кі я гом, цява лі мы ка”. Яны стрэ с рымі аплацёдыс ы лецзіммаснтацкай я ў пры р гурт “Спадчыжна” рна ча льлечта й“ на гас “З кі усё Вось “ ў ў роз ялікіяапіла авец к (ця к, па эт і ж нік У вяадсоам ыны ракосў. нов кыо яоелрума, ў н няд ні я йна дв як в Куп ікта ў ы веды да з ж оўсткэнавія іла ліас віць жад і на к і н ты, ша цеб ыц рай ум на Бела Хрус . Бо ушчы В лі зя раўніцай ЯнінайцьЮзэ а гле менпта дэфіле ўдзельўніц го ны, ка вонілнху” ды іншыя ы ліны пам онрэ і”одй біл навучыглі пацэнт тва пчыць ер эт “Ля а іцлцмі звыры уч вііцта й даВчы ей Ві ды фо ша ру та , я ам ”. свавіч. ючжым іст тань і п урэнэар адзі ыы.х л род-а ноз вГ алгачыТнік ба аімі асц род ам а кай л зе , еты ь к , т н ык сувя кавых” о пра анходдзіў ёцы. ф цю оозе п пры пеня зе! эчтам анё “тан ,”—рлі л кл2021 с г н й к сі, ль” р . кія о а н р п м р с у а е ю а у М л н л ы ў а з м я Два дні доў жыў ся фэст, ва біў у “віш кас мах. 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Дз шБе р в ,зіі ўла й ж -я е ы ы й п о а а ў е а -я о й т , ы э к ц н е а а к І ц п н о ы л к а а р н а с о ш т о л с ва гад цк н зс Не ет уп а овіч К уемала чырат цыыд ха надса ых ко га на бл ер ма 8 вец ік М ў пра ё — аам . ав -аю йс шчы орна”ы Даўўгаў ім мбы в піл е ацьпранграма: адга нІ ы нур зстарклас шы тэрму”, а-бў кубачку наша мадэль Цэнтра бе й замежжа. Ціка вёў уне гвая . б а цпа до вярліч ць дска л в у тваохвілыалтэ ф н ны чы ы пеуны а пяла аюбакі бе ...“ сіхс ў К ітор “Спад аўдкам в амай ва . т:во ольшя Во . 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Беларусь. Belarus Social and political magazine № 8 (1019), July, 2018 Published since 1930 Founders: Zviazda Publishing House editorialand-publishing establishment Editor-in-Chief: Viktor Kharkov

4 6

Executive Secretary: Valentina Zhdanovich Editorial office address: 220013 Minsk, Belarus, 10a Bogdan Khmelnitsky Street Tel.: +375 (17) 287-19-19, +375 (17) 292-66-92 Тel./fax: +375 (17) 287-15-26.

Technology for the future

Move with a ‘roadmap’ Eastern Partnership

turns into practical instrument of regional cooperation

19-36

Co-operation Belarus — Uzbekistan

www.zviazda.by E-mail: belarus.mag@mail.ru Subscription index — 74977

Old quarter bohemia How a famous native of Grodno Leon Bakst inspires countrymen to create family businesses

Registration Certificate No. 8 issued on 16.07.2018, by the Information Ministry of the Republic of Belarus

Scales impress Slavianski Bazaar held for

Design and Layout by Tatiana Storozhenko

the twenty-seventh time in Vitebsk, presenting star guests of traditional forum

ЁReasons to be proud It’s exactly 400 years ago that Belarusians published the Primer of the Slavic language

‘I definitely won’t waste money partying’ Miss Belarus-2018 shares her dreams, and plans for the future

Postscript to the jubilee

Beware — cats!

48 8

Giants return to roam free

Lucky star of Valery Kazakov The famous

Unique research enabling Belarus to lead in ‘wild’ bison numbers

writer and philanthropist speaks about the Herodotus Sea, his attitude to his homeland and belief in intuition

Беларусь. Belarus is published in Belarusian, English and Chinese. The magazine is distributed to 50 countries worldwide. Final responsibility for factual accuracy and interpretation lies with publication authors. Should any article of Беларусь. Belarus be used, reference to the magazine is obligatory. The editorial office does not bear responsibility for contents of advertisements. Signed for printing on 22.08.2018 Offset printing. Coated paper. Format 60х84 1⁄8. Conventional printed sheets 6,51 Accounting published sheets 7,32

Total circulation — 1,732 copies (770 — in English) Order

Divimax JSC Licence No. 02330/53, as of 14.02.2014 220007 Minsk, Belarus, 125 Aerodromnaya Street

Two paths to comfortable life

On the front page of the cover picture by Irina Yasyukait-Dudareva 'Flower Beds. Jumps'

беларусь. belarus 2018

editor’s note 2

Heat doesn’t damage the course This August heat! There’s nothing else to say about it, and it continues. Though August is thought to be the height of summer and everything should begin to cool down after it, so far that this is not the case… Yes, it is not easy for us to endure the heat but weather like this is good news for our farmers when the harvest begins, and August is just the right time. Work is foremost in their thoughts, while news that millions of tonnes of grain have been harvested arouses a feeling of true pride for the farmers’ hard work. Of course, modern machiner y nowadays is a great help to agrarians and it is pleasing to see that in most cases, it is domestically produced. The most recent example: Gomel’s agricultural machine builders have created the latest harvester that can rival the best world analogues of such machinery. The President of Belarus personally tested the experimental sample of the harvester and highly praised it. What other topics are revealed on the pages of our magazine? To gain an investor is always beneficial and profitable. Belarus has been encouraging investors as desired guests at the top level, especially in recent years. In particular cases, they are offered very attractive proposals, primarily various privileges. All this is justified, as investors need to be interested in order for them to choose in our favour. An eloquent example of fruitful investment co-operation is the ChineseBelarusian interaction. The joint Great Stone Industrial Park, near Minsk, whose residents are famous Chinese companies and other significant (multi-million) projects (that are successfully being implemented in our country with the participation of Chinese capital), and a more decisive and ‘aggressive’ attempt of the Belarusian companies to enter the huge market of the Heavenly Empire are the components of pragmatic partnership that brings mutual benefits. беларусь. belarus 2018

Meanwhile, experts and observers believe that there are still many opportunities regarding the countries of the post-Soviet space. Former ties have not immediately been broken. Many believe that today they are experiencing a renewed renaissance. There’s evidence to support this theory. For example, in recent times, much has appeared in the news to suggest that Belarus and Uzbekistan are trying to activate their relations. We’ve learnt only recently about the visits of delegations and issues of collaboration are being discussed, primarily in the trade-economic sphere. Much has been also spoken about the agreements reached. We should remind readers that an Embassy of Uzbekistan has been operating in Minsk until recently and who else, but the Ambassador has complete information about the bilateral contacts and visions of prospects at inter-state level? The Ambassador Extra ordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Republic of Belarus, H. E. Nasirjan Yusupov, began his mission only a few months ago but this energetic person — who made such an impression during the meeting — already has big plans for his role. He believes that soon mutual ties between the two states will be filled with new and much more efficient content. This confidence is clearly seen in Mr. Yusupov’s statements during our conversation, as you can see on our Bridge Connecting the Countries article. It’s placed in a section of publications dedicated to Belarus-Uzbekistan collaboration, including in the sphere of literature. We’ve prepared them for the exhibition of Belarusian manufacturers — Made in Belarus — that is to take place in Tashkent in September. As far as the heat is concerned, as usual, it doesn’t damage our work when it is done with passion and should still bring us benefits. By Viktor Kharkov

panorama

1 `` Much to see Foreign tourists’ interest in Belarus growing annually, with increasing number of visitors expected in run-up to 2nd European Games, in 2019

here’s some time ahead before we host the Games, but time should be used efficiently, notes Belarus’ Sports and Tourism Minister Sergey Kovalchuk. He believes the International Spring Fair of Tourist Services — Leisure‑2018 — will contribute to the promotion of Belarus’ tourist potential, explaining, “Guests of the 2nd European Games will not only attend sporting competitions but will want to see more of the country. We must do everything possible to demonstrate our culture, history and the beauty of Belarusian nature. Belarus has much room for tourism development and we’ll see results if we properly organise ourselves.” The Minister has visited four dozen countries and seen a great deal but remains convinced that Belarus has something to surprise foreign tourists. However, he wishes to see investments made. The 30-day visa-free regime for foreigners arriving via the National Airport has proven fully justified. Interestingly, over the past year, visafree entry through the National Airport has benefited about 100,000 citizens from sixty-eight countries, with those from Germany, Poland, Italy, the UK, the USA, France, Latvia and Lithuania topping the list.

2 `` European Commission invites us to the table Belarus is to take part in September’s round of negotiations in Brussels, discussing a simplified visa regime and readmission, as well as reduced Schengen visa costs for Belarusians to 35 Euros, and simplified application

ccording to the European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European Union is committed to strengthening its interaction with Belarus, saying, “Simplification of the visa regime will facilitate the development of contacts between people, support-

ing personal ties and reinforcing interaction between companies, for the benefit of our economies. I’d like to thank the Belarusian authorities for participating in negotiations on both agreements, conducted in the interests of both sides, and, most importantly, in the interests of our citizens.” Belarus has been negotiating with the EU on simplifying the visa regime and readmission since Januar y 2014. Over this time, there have been four meetings, with the last in June 2017, hosted by Minsk.

`` BSU students settle dispute on Mars BSU International Relations Faculty third-year student Yelena Lavrenova and Master’s Degree student Darya Bogdan are to represent Europe at the world finals of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition, having won the European round in Lisbon (Portugal)

he competition is one of the most prestigious student competitions within the international sphere of law relating to space, which regulates the activity of states and individuals regarding research and use of cosmic space, of the Moon and other celestial bodies. Of course, these belong to all humanity. Selection rounds took place in Europe, America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific Region, with entrants presenting a written and oral position on an imaginary case, in English, at a faux-session of a UN International Court. The imaginary ‘dispute’ was set in 2056, between the two states of Neapilia and Kalvion. With Earth’s resources depleted, the countries attempt to conquer Mars. The BSU team was taking part in the contest for the first time but managed to defeat twenty national teams in the European round, including squads from the Royal College of London (UK), Leiden University (the Netherlands), the University of Brussels (Belgium), the University of Genoa (Italy), Rome’s Sapienza University (Italy), and the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. The world finals will take place in German Bremen from October 2nd4th, as part of the International Astronautical Congress. беларусь. belarus 2018

orking trip

Technology for the future This working trip of the President to the Gomel Region began with a visit to the reconstructed regional children’s clinical hospital. It was a pleasant and long-awaited treat for all residents of the region. Until recently, this hospital, built at the beginning of the last century, had just two buildings. The medical institution desperately needed more departments and modern equipment. Moreover, there were constant problems even with the number of places available. Hospital rooms accommodated 5-6 patients each, while children over 15 had to receive medical assistance in the departments for adults. Now, the city has a supermodern medical institution, with the latest equipment.

Alexander Lukashenko visits Gomselmash enterprise

oreover, Gomel residents were also pleased to hear another announcement by t h e P r e s i d e nt which he made during his visit to Gomselmash. “Gomselmash is the legacy of our nation and not only of our generation. We’ll preserve and strengthen it in every possible way. Skilled people mustn’t be thrown out onto the street. Gomselmash does have its future. We have an obligation to preserve this enterprise and, I believe we

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can bring it to a higher level of development.” The implementation of the project for reconstruction of the regional children’s hospital was launched in 2016 on the instruction of the President. Financing was provided from the Republican and regional budgets, as well as money raised during the Republican subbotnik. Within less than two years, the builders have created a new facility which is pleasing to eye and leaves a very good impression. High-tech equipment was supplied, including computer and magnetic-resonance scanning

units. The most complex operations are made in the surgical block, while the special pride of the doctors is a super-modern neonatal block where prematurely-born babies are taken care of, even those who weigh less than one kilogram. Super-modern technologies and the professionalism of the doctors bring superb results. Moreover, the services of this hospital can be used by both citizens of Belarus, as well as those of Russia and Ukraine. Industrialists also do well. It’s difficult to believe, but back in the mid‑1990s Belarus had no grain harvesters. At

that time, the President insisted that it’s necessary to develop domestic harvester production. Of course, German vehicles are good but why pay more for imported machinery if we’re able to manufacture our own which will be no worse. In record time, they have created what hasn’t been done by either the rich Kazakhstan or our neighbour Ukraine. Gomselmash now provides the domestic market with technology, as well as delivering it to almost 40 countries: from Asia and Africa to South America. I remember the events of a year ago when, during the harvesting of a field of wheat in the Alexandriyskoe JSC, in the Shklov District, Alexander Lukashenko was shown Gomselmash’s innovation — a grain harvester KZS‑1624. The President learnt in detail about the innovation and personally tested it together with his son Nikolay. After the test drive, the instruction to constructors was to fine tune everything and create an even more perfect harvester which ‘should move along the field like a spacecraft’. At present, three trial machines are undergoing tests in field conditions. The grain growers are pleased as the machinery is really of ‘cosmic’ quality. The new super-harvester KZS 2124 targets advanced farms which receive crops of no less than 60 centners per hectare. The harvester is equipped with a system of precision farming, a push-button system of gear shifting, and has a more powerful engine and higher efficiency. The working width of the harvester-thresher is increased to ten metres, while its capacity is 24 tonnes of grain per hour. Moreover, comfortable conditions have been created for farm machinery operators: there’s even a cold store with the function to heat food in the cabin. It is also very important that the cost of the new premium class vehicle is half that of German analogues. At the enterprise, the President was also shown one more innovation: a harvester using gas-motor fuel which saves up to 50 percent of resources. Security is also at the highest level.

orking trip

BELTA

The President visits regional children’s clinical hospital in Gomel

Alexander Lukashenko has set a task to produce several such machines by the next harvest and test them in one of the farms. The President promised to personally assess the results. According to designers, a new harvester will be in wide demand on the Russian market. The most important thing is that competition is fair and h on e s t . A l e x an d e r Lu k a s h e n ko also instructed the leadership of the enterprise to more widely, on a nationwide scale, launch the programme of restoration and modernisation of old machinery. It would be beneficial for small farmers, who would receive an almost new vehicle while paying just half or even a third of the price, as well as for the enterprise and the state in general. After his visit to the Gomselmash assembly workshop and seeing the new types of machinery, Mr. Lukashenko also chatted to employees of the company. He spoke about competition worldwide, and about conditions in which the issue of quality (which should be brought to a German and US level) is extremely important. Speaking about the 2nd European Games, he said, “ This European regional movement is only beginning,

and it has a big future. These Games will stir us up. We’ll create a good sporting infrastructure and it will encourage the hotel business. By offering a visa-free stay for the whole month, this will have a positive influence on the tourist industry and general impressions about our country. Just look at how the Russians are proud of the way they conducted the FIFA World Cup. For us, it will be even more necessary because many people around the world don’t know us.” Answering the question about the forthcoming 2nd European Games in Minsk in 2019, Mr. Lukashenko expressed confidence that this sporting forum will bring more dividends than expenses to the country. He emphasised that it is very important for the country’s image to host such a large-scale international sporting event. “They have given us an incentive. We’ll create good sports infrastructure and accommodation, although we have enough hotels already. Taking into consideration that we introduced a 30‑day visa-free regime, this will have a positive impact on the tourism industry,” noted the President. By Yevgeny Kononovich

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riorities

Move with a ‘roadmap’ Eastern Partnership turns into practical instrument of regional co-operation

The tenth round of informal ministerial dialogue between members of the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative took place in Minsk. At first sight, this ordinary event exceeded the limits of regional co-operation and inter-relations of our country with the EU. Conflicts between large trade powers have reached a colossal scale, asserted the Brazilian diplomat, Roberto Azevêdo, who has been heading the World Trade Organisation (WTO)

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since 2013 and regulating trade relations between its 164 members. In his recent interview to the German ‘Handelsblatt’ newspaper, he noted that the situation is unacceptable, “We should monitor it so that the atmosphere for future conversations isn’t affected but remains efficient. If political leaders don’t retain a constructive spirit, the world economy and our citizens will suffer greatly. If the situation in world trade continues to deteriorate, we will

face a global recession and we already see the signs that the process of decline has started.” Minsk’s round of the Eastern Partnership saw a report by Belarus’ Foreign Minister, Vladimir Makei, which tackled more than interrelations between Belarus and the EU. It’s necessary to understand that collaboration between countries is necessary to take national economies to a new level of development.

P “In total, trade-economic co-operation with the EU has improved, and last year, mutual trade turnover increased by 20 percent for both import and export supplies. Interaction with the EU’s financial institutions has also significantly improved, for example, with the EBRD and European Investment Bank,” noted Mr. Makei. Moreover, today our country and the EU are actively working on the document entitled ‘Partnership Priorities between Belarus and the EU’ to be signed by Minsk and Brussels this year. It will become a ‘roadmap’ of co-operation for the period to 2020, believes Mr. Makei. “For us, the signing of the ‘Partnership Priorities’ is a very important task, since this creates a foundation for concrete interaction between Belarus and the EU in all spheres, while also creating a basis for access towards closer collaboration between financial institutions of Belarus and the European Union. We view participation in the Eastern partnership as an indispensable part of our common co-operation with the EU across all areas. For us this initiative is vital, as it gives more opportunities for rapprochement,” added Mr. Makei. This is crucial not only for rapprochement but also for regional stability in general. Our country stands for a direct dialogue between the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union with the prospect of shaping a stable and prosperous common economic area between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The Eastern Partnership should develop on a constructive course, stressed the Head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, “It shouldn’t be directed against the interests of third countries. Belarus is keen to use the potential of the Eastern Partnership to overcome divisional lines and to restore trust. The position of Belarus remains unchanged: to achieve success, the Eastern Partnership should work as a practical and non-

riorities

COMPETENTLY Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations: In the last several years we’ve managed to build mutually trust-worthy relations with Belarus because only on such a basis are we able to reach something satisfactory for the interests of citizens. My view is the creation of a belt of prosperity as part of the European Union and European partnership. This will serve as the best guarantee for our security and stability. The development of the economy always means the development of society and the development of the country.

David McAllister, Chairman of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee: The Eastern Partnership was established in the EU to help Eastern neighbours which are undergoing the stage of transformation. The major goal was to preserve peace and stability in the region. This partnership is based on the aspiration that mutual co-operation is of value and facilitates peace, stability and good neighbourly relations. To make better use of the transformation potential of this instrument, we need to correct false concepts, to be clearer in our requirements and formulate our goals. confrontation instrument of regional co-operation, paying special attention to efficient cooperation in the spheres which are of common interest… When we say that we are ready to make a strong contribution to the settlement of conflicts we say this sincerely and not for political or other dividends, because we understand that stability and calmness in our region and in our country, is crucial to the well-being and prosperity of our citizens, as well as the independence of our state.” Remarkably, in such a situation, not only separate countries benefit but the whole Eastern Partnership initiative. In 2016, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington stated that the EU is losing the Eastern Partnership, while European experts began to speak openly in the newspapers that the Eastern Partnership was promising the glaring falsehood to its participants of joining the European Union. A year later, the Head of the Warsaw Centre

for Strategic Analysis, Witold Jurasz, asserted that the Eastern Partnership is dead. Today analysts are in no hurry to make such straightforward conclusions. The European project has received its second wind, turning into an efficient mechanism of pragmatic economic interaction. Minsk has said many times that we have nothing to divide us, while there’s many areas for kind co-operation and the political will of all states of the region should be directed to this end. In mid-October, Belarus will be hosting a conference dedicated to the struggle against terrorism, especially in cyber-space. This event will be conducted together with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Moreover, a Core Group Meeting of the Munich Security Conference will take place in late October-early November, inviting around a hundred top ranking officials of the EU. The dialogue will be continued. By Maxim Osipov

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orld level development

BELTA

Giants return to roam free Unique research enabling Belarus to lead in ‘wild’ auroch numbers

elarus has the most ‘free-roaming’ auro chs worl dw i d e, with 1,817 of these rare wild animals. This is only 46 fewer than in Poland, which has the largest total number, although that is set to change within the next 18 months, thanks to studies at the Academy of Sciences aimed at creating micro-populations of aurochs.

Age of revival In an attempt to learn more, we chatted with researcher Pavel Veligurov, from the Belarusian NAS’ Scientific and Practical Centre

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for Bioresources. Mr. Veligurov, who studies population ecology of terrestrial vertebrates and bioresources management, explains, “European auroch are among the most ancient animals alive today. In the Middle Ages, they inhabited much of Europe. However, they were hunted almost to extinction, with only fifty-six remaining by the early 20th century (all blood descendants of seven aurochs). However, the breed was saved, with restocking commencing in earnest after the Second World War. The wild Belovezhskaya Pushcha was almost the last habitat of aurochs, who lived there under special protection. After the partition of the territory of the forest, they resided in Poland but, in 1946, some were brought to Belarus.”

Mr. Veligurov continues his story, while thumbing through S oviet publications showing photos of aurochs. “Since then, the Belovezhskaya Pushcha has been positioned by both countries as a centre of auroch recovery. The populations were created in Ukraine and Russia but, in the 1990s, poachers began shooting indiscriminately. The number of Ukrainian aurochs fell from 600 to 200. Russia is now ranked third worldwide, having over a thousand of these rare auroch.”

Correct calculations Over the years, our country has been carefully protecting aurochs against ext inc t ion, b e coming a leader in this respect. Following a

W decree by the Ministry of Natural R e s o u r c e s a n d E nv i r o n m e n t a l Protection, we are conducting visual registration, with the Belovezhskaya Pushcha population overseen by the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park and the Osipovichi population by a local experimental forestry. The Polesie population is overseen by the Polesie Radiation Ecological Reserve and the northern population by the Kransy Bor Forestry protection. The list goes on. Irina Solovey, a leading researcher at the laboratory, tells us, “We’re collecting data from those watching over the free-roaming populations and closely co-operating with auroch guards from zoos and farms. We’ve been sending lists to the Polish Pedigree Bison Book, which keeps global statistics.” “Each animal has its own ID number and an official moniker. In our country, all names begin with the syllable ‘ba’; this is the rule. The presence of 150 aurochs indicates their short-term preservation. To ensure sustainability, we need at least 1,500 animals. For a long time, it was believed impossible to reach such a level but Belarusian scientists have found a way. We’ve changed the situation drastically over the past twenty-five years. Since 1994, the country has realised a ‘metapopulation model’ to save European aurochs; this has become the basis for the Auroch programme and action plans for conservation and sustainability. During this period, the number of bison in the country has increased almost five-fold,” she says.

Quality over quantity A new complex of developments and technologies aimed at creating auroch micro-populations will soon help the country lead worldwide for total auroch population. This will help meet a number of international

environmental conventions and w i l l c ont r i b ut e t o c on s e r v i n g globally significant biodiversity. Candidate of Biology Irina Solovey explains, “The strategy will assess the suitability of habitats for bison, d e v e l o p i n g re c o m m e n d at i o n s , including measures to accompany their implementation. This applies to the selection of population leaders, as well as how to catch and immobilise them, how to transport animals and how to introduce aurochs to new conditions.” She continues, “The new complex of measures provides for tagging and genetic certification of animals, and a monitoring system for newly created micro-populations. Such approaches will ensure sustainable growth in the number and expansion of the endangered animals. European auroch could have gone the way of forest tarpan, marsupial wolves, zebra and quagga, as well as the many other species man has caused to become extinct. Were it not for the efforts of the world community, we wouldn’t be seeing a revival. Experience shows that our scientists, in collaboration w it h f ore i g n colleagues, are achieving amazing results. They’ve m a d e a hu g e contribution to the revival and increase in the number of bison. Given current statistics in our country, we can assume that these rare animals will continue to live in Belarus for at least another 150 years, but it’s too early to say they’ll never become extinct. Much work lies ahead. Scientists plan to go from increasing the population to ensuring genetic diversity, by breeding from different micro-

orld level development populations. We’re now moving from quantity to quality.”

Catching up! Specialists are carefully studying the genetics of animals, conducting research in the field of parasitology and developing criteria for evaluating b r e e d i n g v a l u e . Us i n g h i g h tech innovative methods, which allow monitoring without contact, via satellites and unmanned aircraft, we’re tracking the movement of animals across large areas, determining their size, population structure, and more. Auroch are more than an indication of our rich and varied fauna; they symbolise our country. Belarus is home to over 25 percent of the world’s auroch population and we’re ahead of Poland by 124 animals, in terms of freeroaming auroch. The figure is growing every year and we’re predicting that the new programme will allow us to go even further. By Yulia Popko

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Lucky star of Valery Kazakov The famous writer and philanthropist speaks about the Herodotus Sea, his attitude to his homeland and belief in intuition

Valery Kazakov at Stars Square

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He is in fact a citizen of two countries: Belarus and Russia. He was born in Belarus but created himself as a writer and public and political figure in Russia. However, irrespective of where his fate brought him, Valery has never forgotten his homeland. It was thanks to him that the Mogilev Museum of History was enriched with several hundred valuable exhibits, including the Grand Duchy of Lithuania’s Statute (1588). It was recently decided in Mogilev to award Mr. Kazakov the honorary citizenship of the city and to immortalise his name on the Stars Square near the cinema. We asked the writer what he felt when he was declared an honorary citizen.

When I was told about the honour, I was a little scared. I have many awards, but this one is special. The decision was taken collegially — by the city council of deputies, or Rada (as it used to be called). This is a very serious responsibility for me. I will need to somehow live up to the title [smiling]. You already do so much — having written many books about Mogilev and Belarus… Yes, I’ve written enough books but it’s important to come here more often, to meet people. After all, who is Mr. Kazakov for an ordinary Mogilev resident? I am very grateful to the Chairman of the Mogilev City Executive Committee — Vladimir Tsumarev — and the Mogilev City Council of Deputies. I’m thankful to the Director of the Museum of the History of Mogilev — Alexey Batyukov — who nominated me for this honour. For me it is important that this was done under the pretext of preserving cultural heritage and especially as it’s the Year of Native Land. Perhaps it’s time to recreate that which was destroyed. It is necessary to return Mogilev to the form it has preserved on old engravings. About 90 percent of the historical heritage was destroyed but people lived here until 1918. We have built an independent state, now we need to restore its history. For this, only will and desire are needed. During the Great Patriotic War, many ancient German cities were destroyed — i. e. Munich, Nuremberg, Dresden… everything was restored there. And we must do it. If we are building, for example, a new church, why not revive the one that was there before? Take, for example the Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church… What do you personally mean when speak of the small homeland? What memories are especially dear for you? I was born in Mogilev, at the railway hospital in Belinsky Street. My father worked as a railway worker. Then we lived for a while in the Chausy District, in the village of Gorbovichi where the beautiful Resta River flows. My parents for some reason recorded that I was born there. When I was seven years old, I returned to Mogilev. Then I graduated from school and met my first love. The house where I lived is still there. There, in a

small two-room apartment, my parents lived, me, my sister, then my grandfather and grandmother also moved in with us. From the village I brought to my apartment in Mogilev a favourite stool, which my grandmother called ‘uslonik’. I kept my grandmother’s hand embroidered veil, the icons near which my mother prayed. One of them features the Mother of God with a ladder: seven steps act as a symbol of seven heavens. For me, it is especially dear since I received it along with my mother’s wedding garland. My favourite places in Mogilev are Podnikolye, Polykovichi where there is a healing spring. I also love the railway station with which my childhood was connected. In the House of Culture of Railwaymen, I first came on the scene. I had a wonderful teacher — Esfir Mikhailova, an Honoured Artiste of the RSFSR. She played in the Regional Drama Theatre and led the folk theatre classes at the Palace of Culture. I still have the medal of the Lenin Komsomol Award: I received it for playing in her show. I played many roles in my childhood. There was a time when we staged three performances a day. Ms. Mikhailova saw me as an artist. When a commission came to Mogilev to select the most talented guys for admission to VGIK, I went to the audition and performed well. However, I refused to go to Moscow as I wanted to join the army. Was one of your ancestors was a military man? Perhaps. Once in Chita I heard an interesting story about our namesake. During the First World War, there was a certain Kazakov who served as an assistant to Ataman Semenov. The

Let all people who feel themselves Belarusians be worthy of this great present. You do not need to be rich to contribute to the preservation of our common heritage. This must be done for the sake of our descendants. If each of us finds their own small homeland, then we’ll have a large motherland. fates brought him to the Far East. In 1946, when the Soviets reached China, he disappeared. He wrapped himself up with Cossack banners and fled. I was shown an album with his photo, we have much in common in appearance. Then my mother told me a family story related to some disgraced Cossack from China. It is possible that this was the same helper ataman. Do you regret that you did not immediately become a writer? In the army, it’s not the best time for romanticism. Why? The soldier’s everyday life has its own romance. Dmitry Volkogonov — known for his truth-revealing books — began his artistic path with creating textbooks on ethics and aesthetics for future defenders of the Homeland. He wrote беларусь. belarus 2018

Valery Kazakov: ‘I will need to somehow live up to the title’

that if chairs are put on the same level, then it’s aesthetically pleasing and if they are scattered — it’s not. Seriously, military work also gives something, not only for the body, but also for the spirit. It disciplines. A writer is a convict who sits at the table for hours to write eight to ten pages. If you get up and go away, then you leave everything. You will return to this or not — it is unknown. Someone writes at night, someone in the morning, like Yuri Polyakov. He inspired me, too. I woke up at five o’clock in the morning and wrote something down until ten. Then after a while he sat down again. If there is inspiration, external stimuli do not distract you — even if you are sitting in a cafe. I can also turn on Wagner in my headphones; writing goes better with his accompaniment. You are always on the move: today you are in Mogilev and tomorrow in Moscow. Distances are not a hindrance for you. How do you feel about such a pace of life? My mother called me the Wind. I used to have a call sign in the army: Wind. My family knows what it is. One day in Minsk they woke up at eight o’clock, and I told them: ‘Be ready: we are going to Moscow’. We then went. We stayed there for a while, walked around the churches and I suggested we go to Suzdal. Are you a believer? I’ve never had a dispute with my soul. Our grandmothers and grandfathers prayed. They were most likely Uniates. In the village, in the Chausy District, Catholics and Uniates lived. In turn, I’m Orthodox. When I was a child, my grandmother took me to Mogilev to an Orthodox church in honour of the Three Saints. I knew that there is a God who sees everything. We should not lie.

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Have you never lied? I lied [smiling.]. However, this was in a childish way: I hoped that God would not see. My grandfather said: ‘If God does not see, I’ll see’. Now I am a church person, a parishioner of the Valaamsk Monastery. I even passed my obedience there, working on its restoration. The place is very unusual, with many people praying there; this is a physically feeling. It’s like force makes you get on your knees. I had such an impulse only in the church of Apostle Paul in Rome. There is also a very unusual church on the border with Armenia. There is strong power there. In Mogilev, there is a very sacred place: a church in Barkolabovo of the Bykhov District. It’s impossible to look at the icon of the Barkolabovo Mother of God as something ordinary. Her look penetrates the soul, this is one of the strongest Belarusian icons. In Vilnius, the icon of the Mother of God of Ostrobrama possesses such a power. I personally treasure the icon which my great-great-grandfather owned. Generally, they say that you feel the closest connection with your ancestors and nature when you live in a village. The land of ancestors really heals the soul. In Mogilev, I am particularly keenly aware of this. Here are the graves of my parents and grandfathers. You need to talk to your grandfathers, respect them — as my grandmother taught me. I have a farm on the border of the Grodno and Brest regions in the Korelichi District. When I saw this place, I wanted to stay. This was an interesting coincidence. According to the records, I was born in the village of Gorbovichi in the Chausy District, and the settlement is situated in the village of Gorbatovichi. Do you often have such coincidences? Yes, one day I had to go to a meeting, but I did not want to do it, and I did not go. And those who went died. Intuition is a powerful thing. Everyone has something like that. I wrote a book about a black cat; many examples of the kind are described there. The next part will be, perhaps, even more mystical, the third — in general, fantasy about ancient Belarus. Only in this genre can we imagine what our Belarus was like. If you just start saying that everything was like this, a lot of disputes will arise. Some will argue that this is part of Russia, others that this is part of Poland, the third will remember Lithuania, but in fact it was Belarus. It’s well known that people have lived in these places for almost five millennia. Almost every second European nation has Belarusian genes. Nobody knows for sure what the Herodotus Sea is. Little is said about it and I wish to investigate this secret. What is the advice of Valery Kazakov? Let all people who feel themselves Belarusians be worthy of this great present. You do not need to be rich to contribute to the preservation of our common heritage. This must be done for the sake of our descendants. If each of us finds their own small homeland, then we’ll have a large motherland. The state will have a great future. I’ve noticed that I have more and more neighbours in the village. People are sawing or plastering something; life is in full swing. Something is waking up inside people. By Nelly Zigulya

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Old quarter bohemia

yaroslav vanyukevich

How a famous native of Grodno Leon Bakst inspires countrymen to create family businesses

‘Bakst’ restaurant was named in honour of Leon Bakst — a world-famous designer and decorator, who was born in Grodno

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The visa free regime is significantly helping the regional centre, inspiring entrepreneurs to open new cafes, restaurants, hotels, self-catering apartments and hostels. So far, four hundred jobs have been created and, within the first quarter of this year, several food facilities have opened. Owners of Bakst eaterie, Igor and Oksana Guliev, have named their restaurant in honour of Leon Bakst, who was born in Grodno in the second half of the 19th century and became a world-famous designer and decorator.

yaroslav vanyukevich

Greatness and taste The spirit of famous interior designer Bakst is evident not only on the walls, where his ‘Scheherazade’ hangs, but on the ceiling, where several of his prints are on show. The theatrical scenery with an eastern flavour includes an exotic-looking sofa, in bright patterns, inspired by Bakst’s designs. “We have rich tourist potential, which should cast its net as widely as possible,” explains Oksana. “Leon Bakst is our famous countryman, born in Grodno, probably in this old quarter where we’ve opened our restaurant, named in his honour.” Zamkovaya Street was once a Jewish area of the town, with the Choral Synagogue nearby, dating from the 16th century and considered to be among the most beautiful in Europe. Leon Bakst was born to an Orthodox Jewish family in 1866 and, probably, visited the synagogue. He graduated from high school in Grodno but spent much of his adult life in St. Petersburg and Paris. To participate in exhibitions, Leon shortened his surname. Strangely, few people in Grodno know about their famous countryman, despite him mentoring Marc Chagall and being the son-in-law of wellknown philanthropist Pavel Tretyakov and an associate of entrepreneur Sergey Diagilev. Not long ago, a street in a new suburb was named after him.

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Oksana and Igor Gulievy, owners of the restaurant

Representatives of small businesses are embracing the town’s historical and cultural heritage, which is going down well with tourists, as Oksana notes. “Many people come to us for tours and ask about Bakst. It’s very nice for us because we’re proud of our countryman, who dressed Paris in hats and gloves. Then, he left for the USA, creating prints which are still considered fashionable. We’ve taken this concept, trying to create something new but that reflects the history of Grodno.”

She’s delighted by the visa-free regime, since the restaurant receives quite a few bookings from foreign delegations and tourists from Israel, t h e U S , Po l a n d a n d G e r m a ny. Naturally, it’s popular with Grodno residents as well, being bohemian but restful, making it a good choice for relaxing and for business negotiations. Some said it would be impossible to make a go of the business but the novice restaurateurs are proving sceptics wrong.

Melodies of Jewish quarter

Delicacy in the style of Bakst and staff hunger

The building itself is old, purchased as an empty lot from city authorities and reconstructed. Oksana and Igor restored its facade and created a cosy place to relax. They launched their restaurant exactly one year ago, on a long-term lease. “We received a loan under preferential terms for our ‘start-up’, combining that money with our savings, to restore the building over a period of eight months. The city authorities supported us, since our enterprise has created about thirty new jobs,” says Oksana.

Oksana is sure that they’ve chosen the right direction: quiet music, good service and original cuisine… Most of their revenue comes from the sale of food since visitors like to eat more than drink. Naturally, the couple are proud to be among the winners of the Gastrofest Grodno Fest. Interestingly, they’re experimenting with molecular cuisine, improvising unusual combinations, such as ser ving a

R dessert inside a tomato. Meanwhile, i n g r e d i e nt s c a n b e s h ap e d i n surprising ways, such as creating a container for a dessert from biscuit and chocolate. It’s just the sort of approach that Bakst approved of ! A chef, of course, must have imagination, but it takes time to perfect skills. It’s a problem facing Belarusian and foreign restaurateurs: the need to train staff. In general, there seems to be a lack of qualified specialists, although Grodno has several college courses training chefs. According to Oksana, not all know how to use the latest technologies: vacuuming or shock freezing. On the job training is vital.

Small business and great plans Businesses are really noticing that it’s easier to conduct operations

these days, with documentation and the number of inspections reduced to a reasonable level. Owners mostly m on it or s t a n d a rd s t h e m s e l v e s , as it’s in their interest, and city authorities are, of course, keen to support entrepreneurs. Favourable conditions have prompted the couple to cre ate anot her sma l l, public catering enterprise, in a slightly different format. Wo r k c o nt i nu e s t o i mp r ov e the place, with more decoration planned for the facade, associated with Bakst. Meanwhile, a minipark is planned nearby, filled with b e aut if u l s c u lptures, to delig ht adults and children. Locals are keen to organise cultural events there, such as jazz festivals, fashion shows and gallery viewings in advance of exhibitions — all in honour of Leon Bakst. By Margarita Ushkevich

Comment on the topic:

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Myacheslav Goy, the Chairman of Grodno City Executive Committee: Tourism and visa-free entr y are Grodno’s calling cards, with over 35,000 foreign tourists, from fifty countries, having visited already this year. City services and organisations are working to ensure that foreigners feel comfortable, while private initiative also has a huge role to play in developing tourism infrastructure. This is especially evident in catering and accommodation. Last year, three new accommodation facilities opened, followed by two more this year: Aparthotel Slavia and Hostel Kip Town. By the end of 2018, three more hostels and two hotels are set to launch in the historic part of the city. The visa-free regime has prompted the creation of modern public catering facilities, offering new types of services, in new formats. There have been twelve such sites launched this year, seating 451 diners, all in the centre of the city. Among them are the Minta Lounge and Svoboda bar, and the Meetings café, as well as the Big

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So far, the visa-free regime in Grodno and the surrounding area has created more than three hundred jobs, with sixty-four in the public catering sector, and about fifty in the field of culture and recreation. Small businesses are particularly benefitting, with ten catering facilities opening, able to seat 360. Over the summer, about 120 retail facilities and public catering facilities will be operational.

Buffet fast food restaurant. In addition, the Neman trading house is soon to open a summer terrace café on its roof. Grodno’s Souvenir Shop centre, in the middle of the city, features goods by such domestic manufacturers as Neman Glassworks, Elema and Milavitsa. In all, fortyone shops are affiliated to the TaxFree system. It’s important for tourists to be able to find their way around, so four information stands, with maps, have been installed, and another nine are planned by September 1st. June saw the opening of an observation deck looking over the River Nieman and two berths were made for small boats and a cruiser, down below, allowing a river taxi service to launch. Cycling is also being encouraged, with lower curbs and special cycle paths, to ensure safety, all clearly marked. These routes around the city are a great way for active tourists to see more of the ancient city, and the beauty of modern Grodno. OJSC Molochny Mir has been organising tours, and other enterprises are encouraged to set up similar excursions ‘behind the scenes’. Tourism can be hugely profitable, so it’s vital that we do all we can to give visitors an enjoyable experience, making them want to return. By Olga Anufrieva

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scales impress Slavianski Bazaar held for the twenty-seventh time in Vitebsk, presenting star guests of traditional forum

he recent ten-day festival was one of the largest so far, according to the Festival Directorate, welcoming over 5,000 participants from forty-one countries. For the first time to date, participants included representatives of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

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There were 390 journalists (from 126 media outlets) from eleven countries: Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Serbia, China, Armenia, and the USA. The ‘Slavyanka’ programme united over 150 creative events across twenty-two festival venues, selling about 80,000 tickets (including many online). Most sales were made to music fans in Belarus, Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Latvia. Mean-

while, there were even sales to Japan, Canada and the UK. Twenty-one countries sent singers, including ‘newcomers’ from Guinea and Egypt, for the 27th International Pop Song Performers Contest. In addition, young singers from twenty countries competed for prizes at the 16th International Children’s Music Competition. This year’s children’s contest was based on Andersen’s ‘Snow Queen’.

People’s Artiste of Belarus Igor Luchenok was celebrating his 80th birthday, while People’s Artiste of Moldova, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, composer Alexander Morozov, was celebrating both his golden anniversary of creativity and his 70th birthday. The Summer Amphitheatre (the main stage of the Slavianski Bazaar) turned 30, while the Day of the Union State was being celebrated for the fifteenth time, and the Puppet Quarter event marked five years of activity. The Festival’s Book of Records gained three more achievements. The first record was set by a team from several schools of carnival samba and Brazilian drums, from Belarus and Russia, who marched along Vitebsk streets for 1 hour and 40 minutes, taking 15,170 steps and drumming throughout. The second record took three days to complete, with the On Seven Winds group creating an Internet marathon, inviting people to post social media photos with the 1K7H hash tag; over 500 photographs were posted. The Belarusian Lyalka Theatre set the third

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Roza Rymbayeva with batyrs of Arlan Zhete Theatre of Costumes

record, staging a parade of stage dolls: 114 characters from sixteen of their performances. This year, in addition to the International Press Centre of the Festival, the OK Live Press Centre (a mobile

Natalia Oreiro during her performance

streaming application for Odnoklassniki social network) recorded fifty-five interviews and gathered almost 4 million views.

Roza Rymbayeva and the heroes A star was laid to honour the main ‘star’ of Kazakhstan: the ‘sweet nightingale’ of Central Asia. Vitebsk’s avenue of stars drew a large crowd for the unveiling, including the Arlan Zhete Kazakh Costume Theatre, which accompanied Roza everywhere. They guarded the singer in full traditional ‘uniforms’ of fur hats, leather clothes and boots. When asked if they were hot under the scorching Vitebsk sun, the men replied, “No, it’s normal.” Over sixty people are in the band, all over two metres tall. Interestingly, in Vitebsk, the Kazakh titans went to look at the newly installed sculpture to local resident Fiodor Makhnov, who was 285cm tall, and unofficially considered to be the tallest man in the world. Even the mighty guests from Kazakhstan looked like children, being just 210-212cm tall. беларусь. belarus 2018

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Nikolay Baskov

in Russia). She followed the sporting finals from Vitebsk and expressed her admiration, saying, “I really like it here! I hope to visit Vitebsk again.” Fans of the singer were pleasantly surprised by her friendly behaviour, giving autographs and numerous photos after her show.

Emir Kusturica and The No Smoking Orchestra

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Stage of talents

Goran Bregović and his Wedding Funeral Orchestra

‘Wild angel’ named Natasha The 1990s soap star, ‘wild angel’ Natalia Oreiro, flew to the festival capital for the whole week. Previously, she had visited Belarus but it was her first time in Vitebsk. She devoted several Instagram posts to the festival and ‘Slavyanka’ — featuring herself against the Belarusian flag and then near a

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cosy wooden house surrounded by flowers. She was a jury member for the young performers contest and presented a solo concert to a full house. Natalia also walked around the city and allowed journalists to call her Natasha, in the Russian manner. Her press conference began with a song in Russian, ‘United by Love’, dedicated to the World Cup (being held

Nikolay Baskov arrived with his parents, comparing his trip to Belarus to visiting relatives. He praised the atmosphere in ‘cornflower’ Vitebsk, saying it felt like home. He thanked the land where he first came on stage, kneeling to kiss the stage of the Summer Amphitheatre, saying, “Nineteen years ago, I came here as an unknown artist, and this stage gave me a brilliant career and stunning fans. This festival unveils incredible names and the state’s good attitude towards culture is clear.”

Bregović and Kusturica rocked the hall For the first time, Eastern European Goran Bregović arrived with his Wedding Funeral Orchestra, while cult Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica brought his No Smoking Orchestra. The ‘sworn friends’ had everyone dancing and swinging, even having a ‘crazy booth’, and hot Balkan motifs made everyone from the gallery and first rows dancing.

artus prupas

Co-operation

Dear friends! Dear Belarusian and Uzbek readers! We hope that the pages of this special issue of Belarus magazine will be noticed and read in Uzbekistan. Journalists have dedicated their work to the Days of Belarus in Uzbekistan — a landmark event in developing Belarusian-Uzbek relations. The President of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has noted increased activity in BelarusianUzbek relationships in recent times, particularly, saying that ‘we should all be absolutely honest and sincere in this country, since people there have a good attitude towards us and we should try to help where we can, as Uzbekistan is a priority country for us’. Belarus and Uzbekistan are close, having a rich history of interrelations

Belarus — Uzbekistan

We hear each other from Soviet Union days, as well as a common tragedy — the Great Patriotic War, dur ing w hich B el ar usi ans and Uzbeks together achieved the Great Victory. We’re ready to develop relations in various spheres, using trade to support our political relations. We must listen to each other, to understand the interests of nations. A cultural foundation is useful against current trends in globalisation, with nations planning for tomorrow by acquiring world experience and mastering world practices. We need to plan how we’ll make ourselves noticed, and bilateral relations are vital to this plan, including the promotion of national culture and literature. Translations of classical works as well as pop music and modern works of literature can all play their part in ‘creative diplomacy’. A

friendship of nations is also a friendship of literatures. A Belarusian publishing house is currently preparing a new edition of modern translations into Belarusian of works by classical writer Alisher Navoiy, known not only in Uzbekistan but worldwide. The poet lived in the 15th century but his themes remain relevant today and it’s only fitting to find ‘modern’ ways of translating him. We continue to strive for understand of other nation’s legendary literary figures, since their works reveal so much about a country’s character. In this way, we’ll support our desire for peaceful relations, no matter how many kilometres separate us. By Alexander Karlyukevich, Information Minister of Belarus беларусь. belarus 2018

A two-way road

Bridge connecting the countries In recent times, much has appeared in the news to suggest that Belarus and Uzbekistan are trying to re-activate their relations. We’ve learnt only recently about visits of delegations and issues of collaboration are being discussed, primarily in the trade-economic sphere. Much has been also spoken about the agreements reached. We should remind readers that an Embassy of Uzbekistan has been established in Minsk recently, and who else but the Ambassador has complete information about the bilateral contacts and visions for prospects at inter-state level?

he Amb ass ador E xt raordinar y and Plenip otentiar y of t he Republic of Uzbekistan to the Republic of Belarus, H. E. Nasirjan Yusupov, began his mission only a few months ago but this energetic person — who made such an impression during the meeting — already has big plans for his role. He believes that soon mutual ties between the two states will be filled with new ideas and projects. This confidence is clearly seen in Mr. Yusupov’s statements during our conversation. Mr. Ambassador, how would you characterise the modern state of Belarusian-Uzbek relations? Several examples characterise how the relations between Uzbekistan and Belarus are developing. I arrived late to our meeting because I was speaking with the minister regarding the expected arrival of a delegation led by the head of the region and comprising of entrepreneurs. Businessmen come here intending to sign agreements and contracts with Belarusian enterprises. A delegation from Belarusian Pharmmed has been to Uzbekistan to launch a project between two joint companies in the pharmaceutical sphere. Even these few examples show how intensively our relations are developing. We’re currently preparing for the visit of President Lukashenko to Uzbekistan. Relations between the presidents of Uzbekistan and Belarus are very warm and friendly. If the relations between the heads are so good,

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accordingly, relations between the two countries will be the same. It’s the sixth month I have been here. I arrived and began to meet the heads of ministries, departments and labour collectives right away. The phrase ‘We were waiting for you’ went to my heart. Belarus was waiting for Uzbekistan to open its embassy. This year, we celebrate the 25th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations. In this respect, a whole range of events are being conducted both in Uzbekistan and Belarus. In April, the Days of Belarusian Culture were launched in Tashkent and I was lucky to attend. The year will finish with the Days of Uzbek Culture in Belarus. This also characterises our active collaboration and shows how hard we try to compensate for the deferred actions of the past. I must emphasise that both the Belarusian and Uzbek sides have very serious intentions. In your opinion, what are the most significant events of recent years that have added dynamism to the bilateral interrelations between Uzbekistan and Belarus? Of course, the major strategy of any state is determined by its head. In our case, these are the presidents of the two countries — Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Uzbekistan, and Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Belarus. I believe that an embassy is a kind of bridge connecting the two countries. It’s a bridge that primarily reflects the interests of Uzbekistan in Belarus while also bringing the interests of Belarus to Uzbek structures. And these interests do exist. Our relations are now actively developing in the spheres of

goods. On the one hand, active localisation of part of these tractors is already happening. Next year, a task is being set to organise co-operation at a more serious level. It’s very pleasant to note that the famous Belarusian Amkodor Holdings, together with Uzbek machine builders is opening a joint enterprise and we’ll be producing construction machinery there to meet the needs of Uzbekistan. Now, the issue is under discussion regarding textile goods. Uzbekistan is traditionally a cotton-producing country and is famous for it. Belarusian textile workers are positive about Uzbek produce. But now we have the situation that Belarus purchases a considerable amount of cotton not directly from Uzbekistan but via third countries. Unfortunately, the economic mechanism impeded direct supplies. Recently Belarus was visited by a working party of textile workers from Uzbekistan. There was a meeting at Bellegprom Concern, as well as with the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Mikhail Rusy, and we have found ways to solve the problem. As a result, this will lead to the produce being delivered to Belarus from Uzbekistan becoming much cheaper. In future, we aim to enter the markets of third countries, particularly Poland or the Baltic States. Now we invite Belarusian companies to jointly take part in cotton production. At present, cotton manufacture is shifted to a cluster system in our country, i. e., leading enterprises of light industry are signing agreements and a cluster of Uzbek farmers producing cotton is being created. As part of the cluster, cotton is processed into yarn or fabric and then the cluster sells them at its sole option. The state doesn’t take part in this process. Legal entities settle issues independently. Moreover, the Belarusian-Uzbek enterprise Peshkutex is successfully functioning in Uzbekistan. Its produce — yarns — is supplied to Belarusian companies. Meanwhile, Belarusian enterprise have big demand for yarn, so we invite the Baranovichi Cotton Production Association to take part in the activity of Peshkutex, enabling it to considerably expand its opportunities: to produce cotton there, process it and then supply yarns to other enterprises of light

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investment, trade and the economy and tourist co-operation. The President of our country determined that these areas should be our priority. The core of the activity of any embassy is the development of political dialogue and the interests of one’s own citizens. I refer to the ties with fellow countrymen who live here. It’s also important to develop cultural interaction and cultural-humanitarian ties. At the same time, education issues are also vital, alongside those dealing with healthcare. In this respect Belarus is of great interest to us, because your country has preserved much of what was in the Soviet period and, moreover, it has developed this. This is very interesting to Uzbekistan. I have already had meetings with a range of heads of corresponding ministries and departments. Now we’re refining them with concrete areas of work. I think that in the future we’ll have results across these areas. Of course, trade-economic activity is a separate topic in inter-state affairs. What is it today between the two states? How is it manifested? I should say that over the last two years, trade-economic relations began to develop at a higher rate. In 2017, trade turnover between the two states totalled about $200m, while we expect to see considerable growth this year. If we analyse the results of the first six months of 2018, the figures speak for themselves about the serious growth of both export and import supplies. Though I should say here that imports from Belarus to Uzbekistan considerably exceeds the figures of our exports to your country. However, as an economist, I always say that to import it’s necessary to earn foreign currency and to achieve this it’s necessary to export. Belarus understands this and is ready to purchase from Uzbekistan the produce it needs. We in Uzbekistan know agricultural machinery from Belarus well. Minsk Tractor Works is really world famous and each Uzbek agrarian knows that he would be using this machinery with pleasure. Previously, there was a sharp decline in the purchasing of Belarus-made products. However, in the last two years the issue has been developed. This year alone, we plan to purchase one thousand sets for MTZ tractors — much more compared to that previously purchased. We should not only purchase; we should collaborate. Uzbekistan has fully-fledged bases where we can jointly manufacture these

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A two-way road industry in Belarus or to enter the Belarusian market with ready-made goods or the markets of third states. The idea was liked, and now active work is being conducted in this direction. I hope that soon this will be implemented somehow in the form of a contract. Another interesting direction is the development of pharmaceuticals. Belarusian pharmaceutical enterprises gained a strong foothold and their pharmaceutical goods are competitive. Unfortunately, it’s little known in Uzbekistan. Now, we have a work to, firstly, bring this produce to Uzbek consumers, and, most importantly, to open an enterprise in Uzbekistan to jointly manufacture these medications. We have created a special economic zone in pharmacy: where pharmaceutical enterprises are located and favourable conditions for their activity will be created. The Belarusian pharmaceutical industry purchases raw materials in third countries at a high price. Uzbekistan is ready to offer the same at more affordable prices. If we provide work in this direction, accordingly, this will enable us to expand exports of Uzbekistan products to Belarus, while the foreign currency earned can be spent on the purchase of other goods in Belarus, to be delivered to Uzbekistan. I think that it’s a promising direction. In a word, you confirm the fact that Uzbekistan and Belarus are now using every way of possible co-operation both in industry and other branches. Do you see this prospect as favourable? It’s a very favourable prospect. You know, I would like to tackle not only basic branches, i. e. economic contacts, but also cultural-humanitarian co-operation, particularly, the issue of education. We know that Belarusian higher educational establishments are a famous brand. Uzbekistan is the most densely-populated country in the Central Asia, with a population of 32.5 million people. About 17.5 million people are youngsters aged under 30. Our needs in higher education considerably exceed what our republic can offer. So, why can’t we use the opportunities given to us by countries — close and kindred in many relations, particularly, Belarus. We have much in common, for instance, the Russian language in Uzbekistan is the second language after Uzbek. At the same time, the Russian language is the second state language in Belarus. As far as co-operation in higher education is concerned, Uzbek students could study here from the very first year. There are interesting forms which have been already tested in Belarus. For example, they study two years in Uzbekistan, teachers come from there and for the third and fourth years they come here. You know, the issues of distance education

would be very beneficial for Belarus. Why? Because there’s academic teaching staff and, considering the demographic situation in Belarus, where the birth rate is lower, the supply of educational services is higher than the demand. Therefore, exports of educational services are acute for Belarus. Many issues can be solved in this way. Firstly, to satisfy the needs of friendly countries in preparation of personnel. Secondly,

Our nations have much in common, though we’re separated from a geographical point of view. Belarus is as kind, open and spiritual nation as Uzbekistan.

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the people that will study will be the ‘conductors’ of cultures of Belarus and mentality of the Belarusian nation. Thus, they will act as a bridge connecting one nation with another. And I welcome this direction. At present, Belarusian medicine demonstrates much that is interesting and it’s competitive compared to other states. Why not offer these services to Uzbekistan and why not organise co-operation of medical institutions? We also have interesting medical institutions and rather serious traditions. Everything should be developed, and we’ll be working in this area to facilitate the rapprochement of our nations and countries. What has been done at legislative level and what still needs to be done to enable potential business partners of the two states to more actively establish business contacts? A considerable amount of work is currently being conducted regarding this issue. During the visit of the President of Belarus to Uzbekistan, many documents will have been signed. i. e. this will create a legal foundation. Agreements will be signed between the Ministries of Higher and Secondary-Specialised Education of Uzbekistan and the Education Ministry of Belarus, between healthcare ministries of the two states. As far as concrete agreements and concrete contracts are concerned, August will be a very fruitful month in this respect, and by the time of the visit, I think a range of significant documents will already have been signed. Of course, the political component is of great importance in bilateral relations. In which aspects of international policy do Uzbekistan and Belarus demonstrate coincidence of views and approaches? I should primarily say that both Uzbekistan and Belarus are members of the UN. Uzbekistan is also a SCO member, while Belarus has observer status in this organisation. Even participations in these two organisations tell us how close the positions of Uzbekistan and Belarus regarding many

political aspects of our life are. The policy of Uzbekistan is aimed to establish good neighbourly relations with all states, primarily with its neighbours. We have set up warm friendly relations with the neighbouring states: Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. We know that Belarus pursues the same policy: primarily, it envisages good neighbourly relations with its neighbours. As an ambassador I observe with great interest the political life of Belarus: how often rather serious EU delegations arrive here, and that often various forums and events are held here dealing with regional security. It’s clear that Belarus is an initiator, settling many problems of regional, as well as of the world level. I’d like to emphasise one more thought. Our nations have much in common, though we’re separated from a geo graphical point of view. Firstly, Belarus is as kind, open and spiritual nation as Uzbekistan. This is confirmed by everyone. If we look slightly into history, the famous Belarusian poet Yakub Kolas lived and created in Tashkent during the war years. His works and attitude towards the Uzbek nation reflects how warmly the Uzbek nation treated Belarusians who were evacuated during the war years. Another example is that Belarus honours greatly everything that relates to the Great Patriotic War. For you, the memory of war and the consequences of war is sacred. I was in the Victory Museum where there are Uzbek surnames, including that of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Topavaldyev, alongside many others who were fighting in partisan brigades for the liberation of Belarus. Uzbeks are greatly honoured and respected in Belarus! In 1966, when there was an earthquake, Belarus assisted to restore Tashkent. Moreover, a Belarusian cultural centre is operating in Uzbekistan which unites 19,000 Belarusians. They are Belarusians in nationality, but they were born and live there. They have become Belarusian Uzbeks or Uzbek Belarusians. You feel that these are very close nations. In 2018, the Year of Native Land was announced in Belarus. In the same way, the ‘Flourishing Village’ programme is being implemented in Uzbekistan. There’s much in common here because we shouldn’t forget our roots. Yes, cities see more urbanisation and more favourable conditions. We’ve come to live in the city and that’s fine. But we all were born in the village. Why should we forget our native land? No, we should always remember, preserve, take care and, if possible, preserve it for our descendants. This is for our history because the one who doesn’t remember their history doesn’t have future. Here, in Belarus a considerable part of the population lives in urban areas, while in Uzbekistan this correlation is around 50/50. Of course, living conditions in Uzbek villages differ from urban conditions and now the aim of the President and the Government is to pay serious attention to the problem. We’ve organised a nation-wide movement to make rural places better for people’s lives, so I see here much that is common and interesting between us. We are adherents of regional and global security. When the Minsk forum took place during

his speech, the President of Belarus said: ‘Come out to the streets and see: calmness, silence and joyful people. Should we exchange this for something worse?’ We should fight for this and the policy in Uzbekistan is the same. In your opinion, how could co-operation in the tourist sphere substantive? Unfortunately, this sphere of activity hasn’t yet reached its full potential. Belarusians should learn more about Uzbekistan. I believe that this is my first task as an ambassador. We should create the conditions, enabling people to travel and to become familiar with Uzbekistan’s sights. Our great historical cities include Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara. Many tourists from all countries of the world come here. I believe that more people should come from Belarus because I’m an ambassador of Uzbekistan to Belarus. In this respect, unprecedented conditions are being created in Uzbekistan. I should tell you that within a short period of time no other country in the world has adopted so many serious documents aimed to develop tourism. Firstly, favourable conditions for air ticket prices, if, for example, a tourist group heads from Belarus to Uzbekistan, prices for air tickets are much lower than for ordinary tickets. Secondly, we’re observing rapid development of hotel business, with private hotels being set up, which preserve national traditions and national architecture while wishing to show tourists the way of life, traditions and life of Uzbek nation. It’s all very interesting. Now, a transport infrastructure is being developed. We are even establishing transport police to provide security for tourists. I think that we should tell more people about it and show more to Belarusian residents about our country. Mr. Ambassador, you have been working in Belarus recently. Nevertheless, you have probably managed to get a feel for the people and the country where you continue your diplomatic career. What surprised you here and has anything greatly impressed you? What seems similar and brings the two countries together? There’s a great deal in common, primarily an open and spiritual nation. You know that the more I communicate with Belarusians the more pleasure I receive. I have recently made a working trip to the Vitebsk Region. Home in Uzbekistan I tackled agricultural issues and the driver suggested we drop in on his relatives who lived in the village. It was a huge pleasure and I believe that, unfortunately, we have less spirituality in the 21st century. In total, I enjoy your high culture and respect towards each other. We should foster a careful attitude towards nature and ecology. All these should be passed to our children and grandchildren, approximately in the same condition as it’s now, not worse. I saw this in Belarus: wonderful roads, forests and a respectful attitude towards nature. Do you feel at home here? Of course. Mentality is important here while we’re very close nations in this respect. By Vladimir Mikhailov

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People’s poet

Chronicle of poet’s life

‘Land-friend: Uzbekistan’ — wrote People’s Poet of Belarus Yakub Kolas, who lived in Tashkent during the Great Patriotic War

On June 24th, two days after Hitler’s troops attacked our country, Yakub Kolas left Minsk with his family. He made his first stop in Levki, at Yanka Kupala’s house, then travelled to Klyazma, to his wife’s relatives. On August 14th, 1941, he took his family to Tashkent, where the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR had been relocated. For several days, the poet lived in the Uzbekistan Hotel and, from August 17th to October 8th, he resided in a small room on the outskirts of Tashkent, at 5 Fomenko Street (with the senior members of the Andreev family). They lived without amenities; even without much furniture. Their table, a simple wardrobe and some chairs had been given by the Director of the Central Asian University, Sergey Muraveisky, an Honoured Figure of Sciences of the USSR. In a letter to the wife of the Belarusian poet Petrus Brovka, Kolas wrote: ‘I’m not living well: in a small

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room on the outskirts. I have no money, having left my savings book and all loan bonds in Minsk. I earn some money with local printed media’. The Government of the Uzbek SSR renewed Yakub Kolas’ personal pension on October 1st, 1941 and, on October 8th, the poet gained an apartment on Pushkinsky Lane (house number 13) — living alongside the Rusavsky family. He had a spacious room and a hallway. Mendel Model, a theatre critic and former secretary of the Writers’ Union of Belarus, shared Kolas’ apartment for several days, with his family. He was experiencing hard times in Tashkent but later became Deputy Director of the city’s Russian Drama Theatre. As a token of gratitude, he often invited the Kolas family to performances. Yakub Kolas participated in public life, speaking at meetings and sessions. On November 6th, 1941, he delivered a speech at the Tashkent Pedagogical Institute’s Faculty of

Chemistry. On December 2nd, he took part in an evening with Anna Akhmatova, Sergey Gorodetsky and Semen Kirsanov, alongside Uzbek writers Hamid Alimjan, Gafur Gulyam and others. In 1941, Kolas wrote many poems: ‘To Those Close to Me’, ‘Over the Partisan’s Grave’, ‘On the Axis of Rome-Berlin’, ‘Defenders of My Native Land’, ‘Ezel’, ‘Those who Fight’, ‘My Friend’, ‘Moscow’, ‘Ambush’, ‘Crows’, ‘On the Beast’, ‘In Difficult Times’, ‘Oak’, ‘German Binoculars’, ‘Führer and Duce’, ‘Forty Second’, and ‘Voice of the Land’. That year also saw him write the stories ‘Meeting the Enemy’, ‘Nurse Tanya’, and ‘In Intelligence’. In the second half of 1941, ‘Selected Poems’ by Kolas were translated into Turkmen in Ashgabat. Also that year, Sergey Gorodetsky translated his verse into Russian, for publication in Tashkent in early 1942. In that same year, Hamid Alimjan brought together translators of Kolas’ work, and wrote

a foreword for the collection. Thanks to all these publications, the financial position of the Kolas family improved greatly from late 1941, through until early 1942; he also received 500 Roubles a month for his deputising work. In 1942, the family moved to a four-story house, at 84 Pushkinskaya Street, occupying room 39, on the second floor. The residence was close to the Writers’ Union of Uzbekistan and the editorial offices of ‘Frunzovets’ newspaper (Central Asian Vital District), located along Sapernaya Street. Also close by was the office of ‘Pravda Vostoka’ newspaper. Several famous scientists from Moscow, Leningrad and Byelorussia lived at 84 Pushkinskaya Street, as did cultural, social and political figures. The building was home to historians Stepan Veselovsky, Robert Vipper, Vasily Struve, Vladimir Picheta and Alexander Udaltsov, as well as literary scholars Vladimir Shishmarev and Alexander Deich, and academicians S ergey Lipatov and Nikolay Yarmolenko. There were architects and musicians, actors and directors, poets and translators. Yakub Kolas was on friendly terms with many of them for many years. Tatiana, Mr. Shishmarev’s daughter, painted a portrait of Yakub Kolas, while Deich wrote his memories of Kolas, and Lev Penkovsky translated into Russian several of Kolas’ poems. Yakub Kolas become close to Uzbek writers Hamid Alimjan, Zulfiya, Gafur Gulyam, Uigun and Mirtemir. In January 1942, jointly with academicians Lipatov and Oskar Kedrov-Zikhman, Kolas took part in the first session of the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR following its evacuation from Minsk. It was decided to resume the Academy of Sciences’ work in Tashkent, since most of the Presidium’s members were located within the Uzbek SSR. At the end of January, Kolas left for Moscow, summoned by Panteleimon Ponomarenko, the First Secretary of

the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Byelorussiya [as Belarus was then commonly known]. His family remained in Tashkent and, in April 1942, Kolas returned, writing his ‘Tashkent Bag’. This included ‘The Song of the Pilot’ (dedicated to Uzbek fighters), ‘In Spring’, ‘Song of Partisans’, ‘They Have No Place in Society’, ‘Native Path’, ‘Knight Shyklgruber’, ‘To the West’, and ‘To Germany’. Kolas’ ‘Revenge’ collection was published in Moscow in 1942 while his poems in Russian were released in Tashkent that same year: ‘Voice of the Land’ and ‘Selected Poems’, in addition to ‘Selected Poems’ translated into Uzbek [Talangan Sherlar]. The latter featured Hamid Alimjan’s foreword and was translated by Gafur Gulyam, Ui g u n , M a k s u d S h a y k h z a d e , Mirtemir, Hamid Gulyam, Zulfiya, and TurabTula. ‘Frunzovets’ newspaper also printed an article by Kolas, entitled ‘To Red Army Soldiers’. Yakub Kolas mourned Yanka Kupala’s death, writing, “In Yanka Kupala I’ve lost not only the great poet and man but a sincere, close friend with whom I’d walked shoulder to shoulder through life and the literary path, dividing joy and sorrow…” He wrote ‘Over a Friend’s Grave: in Memory of Yanka Kupala’, also sending an epitaph to Kupala to TASS. In Tashkent, Kolas organised the Kupala memorial evening (July 7th, 1942), attended by evacuated Belarusians and Russians and Uzbek writers and poets. The Academy of Sciences of the BSSR held a meeting in Tashkent dedicated to the memory of Yanka Kupala, where Kolas made a presentation on ‘Yanka Kupala and His Poetry’. At that

time, he wrote ‘ To t h e G e r m a n Beast’, ‘To Sergey Gorodetsky’, ‘My Dreams’, ‘When Calm’, ‘Fascists’, ‘Calmness and Storm’, ‘To Comrade Minai’, ‘Unknown Boy’, ‘What Do You Need?’ with some poems published in the newspaper-poster ‘We Will Crush the Fascist Enemy’. The poet wrote about partisans for the local Uzbek newspaper, also preparing an article called ‘Byelorussiya Under Hitler’s Occupation’, for the Writers’ Union of Uzbekistan, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the October Revolution. At the request of Alexander Fadeev, he wrote an article for an international anti-fas cist magazine and als o prepared an introductory article for a one-volume work by Yanka Kupala. In September 1942, Kolas attended a reception for Usman Yusupov,

Yakub Kolas attracted the attention and sympathy of Uzbek writers and everyone who met him, not only for his work as a great artist of the word but as a sincere and open person. Contact with him brought people joy. беларусь. belarus 2018

People’s poet the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of the Uzbek SSR, jointly with the President of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR, K. V. Gorovoy, Vice President Sergey Lipatov, and the People’s Commissar of Education of the BSSR, Y. I. Uralova. On the same day, the Central Committee of Uzbekistan decided to deploy the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR in Tashkent. Ninety employees of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR took part in raising funds for a tank convoy. In October 1942, Kolas finished his poem ‘Tribunal in the Forest’, dedicated to Belarusian partisans, later published in 1943, in Moscow. On November 3rd, Tashkent’s House of the Red Army hosted a solemn meeting dedicated to the 60th anniversary of Yakub Kolas’ birth. Kondrat Krapiva made a report on his life and work. The Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Uzbekistan, Yuldashbaeva, joined poets Ilya Selvinsky, Gafur Gulyam and Hamid Alimjan in presenting speeches. Meanwhile, the radio committee prepared a large literary programme: ‘The People’s Poet of the Belarusian SSR’. Tashkent film studio filmed Kolas and recorded his speech, and ‘Pravda’, ‘Sovetskaya Byelorussia’, and ‘Pravda Vostoka’ newspapers published materials dedicated to the anniversary of the Belarusian national poet. Uzbek literary legend Kamil Yashin recalled, “Yakub Kolas attracted attention and sympathy from Uzbek writers and everyone who met him, not only for his work as a great artist of the word but as a sincere and open person.” Contact with him brought joy to people. His friendship with Uzbek poet Hamid Alimjan became the theme for Svetlana Somova’s ‘Poem about the Poet’. On November 6th, ‘Pravda Vostoka’ reported that Tashkent City Council was renaming one of the central streets of Tashkent (Asakinskaya) as Yakub Kolas Street.

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In December 1942, Yakub Kolas took part in the plenum meeting of the Board Union of Writers of Uzbekistan. In February 1943, he left for Moscow, filmed for a newsreel alongside Comrade Talash. In early March, Kolas became a candidate for the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) and returned to Tashkent on March 21st. The very next day, he began his diary: ‘The Book of Tashkent Being’. On April 9th, 1943, Tashkent Pedagogical Institute hosted a literary

evening dedicated to Kolas, at which Stepan Likhodievsky gave a report and Kolas’ works were read in Belarusian, Russian and Uzbek. In that same month, Kolas joined academician Lipatov in attending a reception hosted by the Deputy Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars of Uzbekistan, Mr. Rodichev. Kolas also began his new poem — ‘Retribution’ (first published by ‘Polymya’ magazine in 1945). At the end of April, Kolas left for Moscow for the All-Slavic meeting. In May, he returned to Tashkent and June saw the release of his ‘In Memory of Yanka Kupala’. In June 1943, Kolas opened an evening dedicated to Yanka Kupala’s memory at the session of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR, Collection of the Legislation of Uzbekistan and the Philological

Faculty of the Central Asian University. In July, he attended a meeting in memory of the famous Uzbek poet, Mukimi (Muhammad Amin-Khoja) and gave a speech to graduates of the 47th school in Tashkent. He also wrote ‘The Wave’, ‘When Joy Returns’, ‘I Hear a Voice’, ‘Spring’, ‘My Joy Has Gone’, ‘At Dusk’, ‘Salar’, ‘My Request’, ‘Star’, and ‘Allies’. In August, he spoke at a rally of the Writers’ Union of Uzbekistan, in connection with the liberation of the city of Kharkov by the Red Army. Together with his wife and son Mikhail, he travelled to the countryside, to Chimgan, to rest for a while, staying with the Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars of Uzbekistan, Abdujabbar Abdurakhmanov. At that time, Kolas was working on ‘Retribution’, and writing ‘Chimgan’, ‘Uzbekistan’ and other verse. In September, for his work in supporting the partisan movement, Yakub Kolas was awarded the Order of the Red Banner, by decree of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet Council. On November 1st, jointly with his family, he left Uzbekistan, having paid farewell visits to the Chairman of the Board of the Writers’ Union of Uzbekistan and the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Uzbekistan. The Council of Ministers of the USSR gave Yakub Kolas the State Award of the 1st Degree, for outstanding works written during the Great Patriotic War. This is a brief chronicle of the life of People’s Poet of Belarus Yakub Kolas, detailing his time in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and his friendship with Uzbek writers. If a monument to Yakub Kolas ever appears in Tashkent, it’s sure to bring wider attention to his work in that country rich in culture and literature. Perhaps, there will be new Uzbek translations of Yakub Kolas’ verse and a new generation of Uzbek readers will be uplifted by the Belarusian writer. By Maxim Veyanis, and Vasilina Mitskevich

To Uzbekistan It’s my time. I leave You, my fraternal land And it’s hard, know, dear land, To say goodbye to you! Another sky will hang Its tent above me. Hang your tent. You’ll look at me in spring With your eyes of bright stars. With all my gut and soul, I feel Your clarity of heat. I will kiss a ray of sunshine Coming from the Uzbek distance. I will recall the city, bustling, vibrant, And the parks and gardens, Solar, the narrow canals, And lines of poplar. I’ll remember corners secluded And the magnificent Chimgan, And my soul will ache for you, My land-friend Uzbekistan. In the difficult time of severe war You gave me shelter. Jointly with Uzbeks, we wrote songs About war in a single language. We also black-smithed a sword To fight the evil enemy. May you rise higher than the waves My Uzbekistan! The wind blows in anticipation Over our land. Goodbye and accept my love With this song. October 23rd, 1943

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Shoulder to shoulder

Kazbek and others During the Great Patriotic War, hundreds of Uzbekistan residents joined Belarusian partisans to fight our German invaders

elarus and Uzbekistan boast the closest devotion, cemented by dozens of years of friendship between our nations. From 1941–1945, hundreds of Uzbeks and those born in Uzbekistan helped fight the Nazi invaders in Belarus. I’d like to tell you about one of those people. By some quirk of fate, Komsomol memb er Mamada li Top ava ldye v (born in the village of Pandigan, in the Fergana Region’s Rishton District) was working in Belarus as the war began, driving tractors. He was called into the

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Red Army and served in the Belarusian military district. His artillery battalion became surrounded, with only a handful of soldiers surviving. They later became the backbone and heart of the Simdakin partisan brigade, fighting against the Fascists in the Mogilev Region. Mamadali Topavaldyev was appointed the head of intelligence and, in June 1942, was accepted as a member of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) by the Shklov underground district committee of the party. Belarusian historian Mikhail Iosko testifies: ‘Over the first year of his partisan life, Topavaldyev killed seventy-four German soldiers and policemen, derailing four trains…’

The brigade eventually became a large partisan unit, named the Chekist partisan brigade and operating across the Shklov, Belynichi, Tolochin, Orsha and Lepel districts. It saved many local people from death, while derailing trains on the Minsk-Orsha and Orsha-Mogilev routes and damaging roads and bridges being used by the enemy. On June 22nd, 1942, the partisans destroyed a Nazi hit squad near the Shklov District’s Dymanovo village. Mamadali Topavaldyev took a Hitlerite general prisoner. After each operation, the head of the intelligence division carved his partisan name

‘Brest Fortress Defenders’ by Piotr Krivonogov (1951)

‘Kazbek’ on trees, leaving a trail of his presence. He kept Germans and policemen in the neighbourhood at bay, despite there being a 50,000 Reichsmark bounty on his head. Mamadali managed to bring over a whole detachment of the German Turkestan Legion — headquartered in Tolochin — into partisan hands. Germans planned to use the legion (comprising of prisonersof-war) to fight against partisans. Meanwhile, primarily due to Mamadali Topavaldyev’s intelligence work legionaries established connection with partisans and soon, seizing weaponry, found themselves in the forest, close to people’s avengers. On August 15th, 1943, the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR awarded Mamadali the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, for perfect fulfilment of tasks in the struggle against the Nazis in the enemy rear and for his courage and heroism. The glorious son of the Uzbek nation was also awarded the orders of Lenin

and of the Red Star, as well as military medals. In post-war peaceful life, in his home of Uzbekistan, the former partisan headed a kolkhoz in his native Rishton District. He received the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and the Order of the Badge of Honour for his bravery. Sadly, on May 7th, 1969, the courageous soldier and hard-working organiser of agricultural production died, but his memory lives on in Belarus and Uzbekistan. A Minsk street has been named after Hero of the Soviet Union Mamadali Topavaldyev, as has a central street in Rishton, and a school in the town. Uzbek residents defended Brest For tress w hile an inter national squadron, commanded by Uzbek Lukman Urakov, from the village of Mitan Kishlak, in the Samarkand Region, joined the partisan brigade named after Kirov, in the Brest Region. He was awarded the Order of the Red Star and the medal ‘For Courage’. Other

Uzbeks who fought with partisan brigades include Chikir Dzhimakov, Gantai Tashniyazov, Begimkul Kul bayev, Sabid Dzhalilov, Said Isyanov, Maruf Dzhurayev, Khamid Usmanov, and Gafur Khakimov. An agricultural worker from the Andijan Region, Abdumadzhid Davronov, was awarded three war orders for his work with the partisans. During the Great Patriotic War, Ural Tansykbayev (a People’s Artist of the Uzbek SSR and a People’s Artist of the USSR) created his ‘Partisans’, in tribute to the brave deeds performed by those men and women. Children from Tashkent, Yusynov and Inogamova, presented a picture of partisan life at an exhibition of children drawings in 1942 (as is described in the Tashkent Almanac, published in Tashkent in 1942). No matter where children are born, they all respond to the idea of bravery in times of trouble, their hearts filling with admiration and awe. By Sergey Shichko

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Fate

One name — two streets in two countries The city of Bykhov in the Mogilev Region has a street named after Hero of the Soviet Union, Gemel Stankevich

Tatiana Storozhenko

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any in B elarus know that this is a relatively small settlem e nt c on nected with the histor y of the Armed Forces. For many years, air units were deployed in Bykhov, but a boy who grew up in the village of Seliba became a tankman during the Great Patriotic War rather than a pilot. Our fellow countryman had an interesting though short life. B efore the war he completed eight years of school and lived at that time in Leningrad’s Gemeluzh. He went to work at the Elektric Plant. When the Germans came to the city, along with his peers, the young man was evacuated to the east, in Tashkent where Gemel Stankevich was working at a factory. As with all his comrades, he worked hard and understood that his factor y work was as important to the war as those spent at the front, as the latter desperately needed machinery and weaponry. Any contribution to Victory was essential. In 1943, as soon as Gemel turned eighteen years old, he was called up to the Red Army. From the start of the war, Kharkov’s Military Tank School was evacuated to Chirchiq, not far from Tashkent. Our fellow countryman from Bykhov found himself in the school at Chirchiq and completed an accelerated course, received the title of junior lieutenant and went to the front. The 1st Ukrainian Front, 111th tank brigade, legendary 25th tank corps… The corps was commanded by General Major Yevgeny Fomin (at the end of the war he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and later he became General Lieutenant). We say that he is twice a fellow countryman of Gemel Stankevich. In 1941, the would-be

commander was a teacher at Kharkov’s Military Tank School, although he was born in Belarusian Koidanovo (now, Dzerzhinsk, not far from Minsk). Together with his tank unit, the General Major Yevgeny Fomin took part in the liberation of Belarus. Tankmen of the 25th tank unit went through Minsk, Borisov and Molodechno. The young boy born in Bykhov — junior lieutenant Gemel Stankevich

all crew members were given high awards while junior lieutenant Gemel Stankevich was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in June 1945, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR. Together with his tank corps, Stankevich marched on to Berlin and Prague. Meanwhile, ‘Fomin’s tankmen’ captured the disloyal General Vlasov. Our fellow

Gemel Stankevich was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in June 1945. His combat awards included the orders of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, of the Red Star and medals… — also got his first b at t l e e x p e r i e n c e when he made his heroic deed in Poland, at the Polish-German border area, in the fight for the German city of Guben (now called Gubin and part of Poland) On February 24th, 1945, Gemel Stankevich’s tank unit broke through a fortified section of the Fascists’ defence. The crew was the first to enter the city of Guben. In the city during a break in one of the counterattacks, Gemel’s tank was hit by a German anti-tank rocket. The commander managed to organise the crew so that the breakdown was repaired almost without leaving the battlefield and everyone remained in the ranks. Over four days of fighting in the city and its suburbs, under the command of Gemel Stankevich, the troops destroyed three self-propelled artillery vehicles, two tanks, four heavy cannon, three trench mortars and 180 Nazis. For this heroic deed,

countryman served in the Soviet Army until 1951 and then returned to civil life though he chose a difficult path… The young man retired in the rank of senior lieutenant and his combat awards included the orders of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, of the Red Star and medals… Gemel returned to Tashkent and graduated from Tashkent’s Legal Institute. He worked as an investigator in the prosecutor’s office and died in January 1962. One of the streets in Uzbekistan’s capital bears his name — the name of the Hero of the Soviet Union, Gemel Stankevich, who is also remembered in his native Bykhov. Today, when many ties and local knowledge has been lost, there’s the hope that someone will take the initiative to organise Bykhov’s youngsters and take them on an excursion to Tashkent to walk through the capital of Uzbekistan, show them Stankevich Street and other ‘Belarusian’ addresses to keep the memories of heroic deeds alive. By Kirill Ladutko

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Literary ties

Belarusian hearts open to Uzbek words

o On August 7th and 8th, 2018, Tashkent hosted the 1st international conference of the Union of Writers of Uzbekistan: ‘Problems of Studying and Disseminating Uzbek Classical and Contemporar y Literature on an International Scale’. The prestigious forum tackled the promotion of Uzbek literature far and wide. I’d like to note the literary friendship connecting Uzbekistan and Belarus. History is always eloquent, telling us about the past; it reminds us how to learn from what has gone before, as we build the world of tomorrow. Looking back on past decades, it’s surprising how much Belarus has in common with Uzbekistan. Our national literatures reflect this, as I’ll try to illustrate, showing the depth of our literary ties. Back in 1930, Uzbek readers became familiar with People’s Poet of Belarus Yanka Kupala. In 1932, meeting the public in Tashkent, writers Petrus Glebka, Illarion Barashka and Mikola Khvedorovich explained the Belarusian literary process and Yanka Kupala’s creativity. In 1942, the first translations of his works appeared in Uzbek

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periodicals, such as ‘Kizil Uzbekiston’ (Red Uzbekistan) newspaper. The latter printed an extract from Kupala’s legendary ‘To Belarusian Partisans’. On July 7th, 1942, when Kupala had already died, the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR (in liaison with the Union of Writers of Uzbekistan) organised a scientific conference to honour the People’s Poet of Belarus. The event took place on June 27th, 1943, at Samarkand University, in Tashkent. Belarusian and Uzbek literary expert, poet and translator Stepan Likhodievsky gave a report entitled ‘The Life and Creativity of Yanka Kupala’. Likhodievsky had spent many years in Tashkent and had done much to promote Uzbek literature translated into Russian and Belarusian. During the Great Patriotic War, Yakub Kolas lived in Tashkent, releasing his books in Uzbekistan, assisted by Uzbek writers. Belarusian writers travelling to Uzbekistan in 1932 resulted in the Uzbek nation becoming better known to the Belarusian artistic world. Glebka, Barashka and Khvedorovich visited

Ta s h k e nt , a s w e l l a s B u k h a r a , Samarkand, Fergana and Kokand. It was an important period in establishing Uzbekistan: in 1932, the country gained independence in growing flax, as Mikola Khvedorovich immortalised in his ‘To Uzbekistan’ poem, expressing his admiration for the achievements of Uzbek cotton growers. In the 1930s, evenings of brotherly literature were held all over the

Soviet Union. Evenings of Belarusian literature took place in Moscow, Leningrad, Smolensk and in Ukraine, as well as in Uzbekistan. Belarusian poet Andrey Alexandrovich helped organise these, writing: ‘We performed our own works and the verse of poets from USSR nations translated into Belarusian… These meetings promoted the establishment of good creative inter-relations and broke the frames of national limitation while developing feelings of brotherhood and friendship of nations.’ Soon, the first ‘envoy’ of Uzbek writers arrived in Minsk: Uigun — whose first poetic collection was released in 1929, entitled ‘The Joy of Spring’. In 1936, Uigun took part in an expanded plenary session of the Union of Soviet Writers, dedicated to poetry. Uigun knew People’s Poet of Belarus Yakub Kolas, writing, many years later: ‘I first became acquainted with him three decades ago. It was in Minsk and I, a novice poet, was lucky enough to take part in a plenary session of the Union of Writers of the USSR, dedicated to poetry. However, I’d come to know the name of Kolas and his creativity much earlier. I studied his poetry, as well as that of Yanka Kupala and a range of Russian classical writers, therefore I justly viewed him as one of my teachers’. Yakub Kolas’ legacy in Tashkent may one day find expression in a commemorative monument to the People’s Poet of Belarus. A design is being prepared by a B elarusian sculptor and a guide book is planned, called ‘Yakub Kolas in Uzbekistan’. How wonderful it would be too see this edition released in Belarusian and Uzbek. We could give information on the editorial offices of the newspapers and magazines affiliated to the Union of Writers during the years of the Great Patriotic War, which Kolas often visited, as well as the addresses of the flats in which he lived, and the poets with whom he made friends. Many of Kolas’ works are devoted to Tashkent and it’s heartening that

many Uzbek writers helped translate Yakub Kolas’ works into Uzbek. Three of Kolas’ books were released in Tashkent (one in 1942, compiled by Hamid Alimjan and translated by Hamid Alimjan, Zulfiya, Gafur Gulyam, Uigun and Mirtemir). Belarusian writers and translators also worked on Uzbek literature, wishing to bring works reflecting the history and modernity of the rich eastern land to Belarusian readers. In 1946, ‘Chyrvonaya Zmena’ (Red Shift) newspaper told its readers about Aybek’s

Ognetsvet was evacuated to Tashkent. Edi Ognetsvet’s own books of verse, in Russian language, were released in 1942, 1944 and 1946 in Tashkent: ‘To a Friend in the Front’, ‘Mikhasek’ and ‘Simple Songs’. In 1966, a collection of Ognetsvet’s poetry also appeared in Uzbek language. Zulfiya helped promote Belarusian literature in Uzbekistan, translating Yanka Kupala, Edi Ognetsvet and People’s Poet of B elarus Maxim Tank. She also wrote articles about Yanka Kupala. In 1981, in ‘Gulistan’

Y. Kolas, S.Gorodetsky, E.Ognetsvet and others at the solemn session dedicated to Yakub Kolas’ 60th anniversary. Tashkent, November 2nd, 1942

novel ‘Navoiy’. In 1948 — seventy years ago on May 15th — articles appeared on the pages of Belarus’ leading party newspapers — ‘Zvyazda’ (Star) and ‘Sovetskaya Belorussiya’ — dedicated to Alisher Navoiy. The author of these articles was wonderful Uzbek writer Aybek. In 1966, prominent Belarusian writer Alexey Kulakovsky compiled ‘Uzbek Stories’ and, the same year, ‘Sun in Aryks’ was released: a collection of Uzbek poetry in Belarusian. The foreword in each book was written by Laziz Qayumov. In 1966, a collection of Uzbek folk fairy-tales appeared in Minsk: ‘ Two Sisters’. A simi lar collection had been released earlier, in 1959. Meanwhile, in 1967, a book of Zulfiya’s verse was published in Minsk, ent it le d ‘Ly r ics’, w it h a foreword written by Edi Ognetsvet. During the Great Patriotic War, Edi

magazine, she published a translation of Yanka Kupala’s legendary ‘And Who’s Going There?’ in Uzbek. It was thrice published in Belarus, including in 2017, in a book of Yanka Kupala’s verse released in 1,001 languages. There are many examples of Belarusian literature being the focus of Uzbek translators. Fables by Vladimir Korban and Kastus Kireenko’s verse can be read in Uzbek, as can Vladimir Korotkevich and Rygor Borodulin’s poetry and the stories of Pavel Kovalev, in addition to other works. Zulfiya’s poetry released in 1985 in Belarusian, entitled ‘This is the Heart I Have’. We all know that Belarusians have generous and open hearts. Regardless of distance and borders, Belarusians and Uzbeks extend the hand of friendship and continue to admire the literary legacy of each other’s nation. By Arnold Pavlov

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Poetess

Zulfiya:

‘I’m going to the country of poetry and songs…’ In the history of Belarus and Uzbekistan, the life and work of People’s Poet of Uzbekistan, Hero of Socialist Labour and laureate of the USSR State Award — Zulfiya (1915-1996) — occupies a special place

n her ‘Here I was Born’ (1942) poem — translated by Vladimir Derzhavin — Zulfiya wrote: ‘When the enemy broke into my land,/ In a murderous affair,/ For every house that burned there, / I thirsted for payday fire./ I believed that a bright day will come —/ These clouds will disappear from the sky,/ And life will happily again blossom/ Under the sun of truth, peace and freedom/ With hope in the future, forward/ I look sharper than the young eagle./ And bright before me appears/ The capital, in its triumphant victory.’ Among the poems written in those stormy years — full of dramatic experiences — are: ‘Golden Autumn’, ‘Susan’, ‘With Weapons in Hands’ and ‘In Greatcoats’, ‘We’ll Meet’, ‘Snow Melts’, ‘Revenge’, ‘To Brave…’ There are different collections of poems by the Uzbek master of verse on my table. All of them occupy their own shelf at the National Library of Belarus. Among them was a thin book published in Tashkent in Russian in 1943: ‘Fidelity’. Its foreword by Vladimir Lugovsky was devoted to ‘Zulfiya’s creativity’: ‘… War,

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the infamous fascism, Hitler’s bestial hordes passed through wonderful countries like a tornado. The fields are dead and the earth is poisoned…’ This physical pain of nature, inextricably linked with great human pain and suffering is so clearly perceived by the poet and expressively conveyed in her poems. In the poem ‘We’ll Meet’, she responds to the famous poems of Mikhail Isakovsky, pronouncing words of cheerfulness and hope to the Russian girl Tatiana that the land and beautiful people doomed by fascism to torment will be liberated… The coming victory for Zulfiya is always seen in flowers, in the sun, in colours, bright and joyful, close to nature. In this sense, the poem ‘His Name was Farkhad’ is of exceptional interest. This poem is about an artist, a performer of Farkhad’s role, a singer who died during the war. It’s written with genuine talent and a solid pen. It continuously combines three aspects: the Uzbek landscape, the theatrical stage and the battlefield’. Another two collections of poems were published in 1967 and 1985:

‘Lyrics’ and ‘This is My Heart’; both in Belarusian. The former has several translators: Edi Ognetsvet, Yevdokia Los, Stepan Gavrusev, Rygor Borodulin, Oleg Loiko, Yuras Svirko, Vera Verba, Anatol Vertinsky, Fiodor Zhichka, Arkady Martinovich, Sergey Grakhovsky. The foreword was prepared by Edi Ognetsvet: ‘Poetry of Zulfiya’. The second book was composed of two parts: ‘Meet the Dawn’ (translations by Edi Ognetsvet) and ‘Fiery Waterfall’ (Anatoly Grechanikov’s translations). The foreword of ‘To My Belarusian Readers’ is written by the Uzbek poet who states: ‘I am going to the country of heroic, courageous and kind people’. I’m going to the country of poetry and song. Belarus lives in my heart. I really want my humble poems to find a response in your hearts… Since 1943 I have kept a precious picture signed personally by Yakub Kolas. His wise, sad, tender eyes are looking at me. We loved and deeply respected the People’s Poet who lived in Tashkent during the war years. I translated the poems of Yakub Kolas, dedicated to

Uzbekistan, into Uzbek with great enthusiasm. …The Yakub Kolas Street in Tashkent is located next to the metro station named after Hamid Alimjan — my unforgettable friend. B oth I and my children well remember November 1943 when Yakub Kolas with his wife, the clear and sweet Maria Dmitrievna, visited our house before leaving for Moscow. There was a warm conversation at the table. How happy we were for the victories of our glorious Army; it was pushing hordes of Hitlerite invaders to the west! Kiev and some parts of Russia and Belarus were already liberated by then. Our mood was great. Konstantin Mikhailovich joked with our children — Hulkar and Aman, laughing at their playful inventions. Hamid Alimjan and me admired the kindness and humanity of the great poet. When we meet with my friend Edi Ognetsvet, we always remember the day that we call the day of Yakub Kolas…’ Belarusian poetess Edi Ognetsvet, who lived in Tashkent during the Great Patriotic War, wrote in her memoirs: ‘In days of deep Belarusian autumn and especially in winter, the soul craves spring heat. This warmth is brought by the books of my Uzbek friends, their letters, calls and personal meetings’.

I love Zulfiya’s poetry: hot, trembling, very personal, having absorbed all the troubles, pain and joys of the people with their roots. While translating Zulfiya’s poems into Belarusian and feel myself in Uzbekistan. Suddenly there is a call: ‘Hello, Eddie!’ The dear and warm voice is near — as if no distance separates us. I hear the voice of Zulfiya and at the same time imagine Uzbekistan and its house in Kompositorov Street where Hamid Alimjan and Zulfiya live. I see thin, girlish Zulfiya, her children Hulkar and Aman. I hear Hamid Alimdzhan’s tender laughter who so loved Zulfiya and his family… During the difficult war years, this house was visited by the People’s Poet of Belarus — Yakub Kolas. This usually reserved man couldn’t hide his feelings after meeting Zulfiya and Alimjan, saying, “What great, wonderful people they are!” For me, the meetings, conversations, s m i l e s of my f r i e nds we re t he incomparable medicine that treated me in the days of my temporary separation from Belarus. All of us were warmed by a deep faith in the victory over the enemy. We were warmed by Friendship!’

Zulfiya twice visited Belarus: in July 1967, when everything around was surprisingly bright with flowers and, in December 1968, at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Belarusian SSR. “The first meeting with Belarus was connected with a good holiday,” Zulfiya later recalled. “This was a decade of Uzbek literature and art. I felt the beauty of Belarusian nature — bright, lyrical and generously melodic. For the first time in my life I saw Belovezhskaya Pushcha. I visited many countries of the world — beautiful and very different, but Belovezhskaya Pushcha is something unique. It became clear to me why the mighty auroch is a symbol of this glorious nation. The Belarusian people survived the terrible war years and did not bend their heads before invaders! We visited heroic Brest, bowed to its stones and the blessed memory of defenders of the Soviet land in 1941. They, not sparing their lives, fought to the last drop of blood and for my children, and for the happiness of all mankind. Friendship routes went from Brest to Slonim, Minsk, Vitebsk, Polotsk. We were kindly received by generous people…” Among the best memories of the poetess was the August evening of 1943 when guests gathered in the house of Alimjan and Zulfiya to celebrate the birthday of their son — small Aman. The party was attended then by Korney Chukovsky, Yakub Kolas and Edi Ognetsvet… It is impossible to write a chronicle of the BelarusianUzbek literary friendship without mentioning the great Zulfiya. It seems the legendary Uzbek poetess had many more meetings with Belarus — as much warmth, kindness, cordiality towards the people of Belarus is hidden in her poems. It’s great that many works of Zulfiya have been translated into Belarusian! By Victor Ozerichin

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Talents

friends of her youth Actress and theatre teacher Lyudmila Matskevich was born in Ukraine but studied acting in the capital of Uzbekistan. Although she has lived and worked in Belarus for over 50 years, she has never forgotten her Tashkent student friends from the 1960s.

hen Lyudmila was finishing school, her father was serving in Te r m e z ( Uz b e k i stan), in a tank division. She recalls there were no higher educational institutions in the city and so she decided to go to Tashkent to study the art of acting. “There were a lot of interesting theatrical courses: Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Kara-kalpak, Turkmen... Russian. It was a difficult enrolment process, but I eventually succeeded. I lived and studied in Tashkent in 1964-1965 and, in 1966, then there was an earthquake and I moved to the Belarusian Theatre and Art Institute. By then, my father had already served his time in the Baltic States and I moved closer to my family,” she says. This is how Belarus became her destiny. Lyudmila liked the country at first sight: its climate, nature, people...

Shurkhat Irgashev. How young we were…

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She quickly learned about collecting local mushrooms which she loves to do even now. Tashkent and the students with whom she studied for two years remained in the past. However, there were still connections: friends who link her to Uzbekistan even now. “Iosif Raduni led a course at the Tashkent Theatre and Art Institute. Among my classmates were people’s artistes of Uzbekistan — actor Shukhrat Irgashev and film director Elyor Ishmukhamedov; the latter directed many interesting films such as famous ‘Lovers’ (1969), ‘Youth of Genius’ (1982). My husband Ivan Matskevich, who’s now gone, was also in Elyor’s ‘More than a Century’ along with Shukhrat. We are friends with the latter; he’s been to Minsk to visit us several times already,” the actress notes. This is a wonderful story: Lyudmila lived in Uzbekistan for such a short time but keeps in touch with the country through Shukhrat and Elyor. Undoubtedly, personal friendly ties between cultural figures are important bridges for establishing further multilateral co-operation between countries. It is through cultural interchange that we can better understand each other, to establish dialogue. The Theatre Institute, founded in 1945 in Tashkent, was named the A. N. Ostrovsky Tashkent State Theatre and Art Institute from 1954 to 1990. This was an independent educational institution until 2012. Later, in accordance with the decision of the President of

Uzbekistan, the State Institute of Arts and the Institute of Culture merged to create the present State Institute of Arts and Culture of Uzbekistan. Amongst the actresses former Uzbek friends, we must remember the director Elyor Ishmukhamedov, who later graduated from the famous Moscow VGIK and had a successful creative career. He won several prestigious awards and titles. Apart from being an Honoured and People’s Artiste of Uzbekistan, Elyor is also an Honoured Figure of Culture of the Russian Federation. Elyor Ishmukhamedav’s artistic catalogue includes the aforementioned ‘Longer than a Century’ — shot in 2009. Belarusian Ivan Matskevich played the main role of Klim Derzhavin — a secret service agent and NKVD officer. This is a military drama featuring other famous actors: Pavel Kharlanchuk, Yelena Vladomirskaya-Pastrevich and others. Shurkhat Irgashev — a Soviet, Uzbek actor and director, a People’s Artiste of the Uzbek SSR (the honorary title was awarded him during Soviet times) and friend of the Matskevich family — also took part. We did not ask Lyudmila whether she asked her director friend to take special note of her Belarusian colleagues when actors for the film were chosen; evidently, the friendly relations worked for the benefit of the project. We hope Belarusian-Uzbek cooperation will continue in various film projects. By Ivan and Valentina Zhdanovich

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Reasons to be proud

It’s exactly 400 years ago that Belarusians published the Primer of the Slavic language Yevfrosiniya Polotskaya and Kirill Turovsky honoured the printed word and loved book learning. Archaeological finds confirm that our ancestors could read and write from ancient times and actively used this knowledge. Teachers told their pupils of the secrets of the word through the texts of religious books, especially the Psalter and the New Testament. However, exactly 400 years ago, on July 24th, 1618, a special book was printed in the town of Evie (now in Lithuania), the prototype of the current textbook for the youngest schoolchildren. The Primer in the Slavic

Language became the first publication in the world of its kind. The Deputy Director of the National Library of Belarus for Research and Publishing — Ales Susha — tells us about this important event, its background and heritage.

The book as a way out of the crisis “If you look at archaeological finds, it becomes clear that education in the past was not such a privileged phenomenon. For example, birch bark letters, in which merchants discussed household issues,

show that the letter was known not only to princes and monks but also to the petty bourgeois,” the expert says. People wrote on stones, left ‘autographs’ on buildings and walls of churches. The most famous Belarusian educator — Francysk Skaryna — also published his books with the explicit intention to make printed books more accessible to a reader of ‘average prosperity’. It can be assumed that — specially for ‘teaching people of the Rzecz Pospolita’ — he printed books in separate editions, splitting them into small parts. They were bought by беларусь. belarus 2018

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merchants and priests, townspeople, petty bourgeois, the military and people in lower class professions. However, there was a huge need for a book that would teach literacy to beginners. Such a textbook was created by the monks of the Vilno Orthodox Holy Spirit Monastery. This was an event of unusual significance — especially considering that no established education system existed at that time. “In the late 16th century, the Orthodox Church was in crisis. On the one hand, Constantinople had been seized by Muslims (which was a spiritual centre of Orthodoxy). On the other hand, there was a certain influence of the Reformation on the minds of believers. Many people, including the rich and powerful, turned to Protestantism. Piotr Skarga and many other figures reproached the Church for their outdated views — in their traditions, in its Church Slavonic language used for worship but not used by ordinary people… Moreover, there were no schools in Orthodox churches!” explains Mr. Susha. In response to the criticisms, some church brotherhoods were established at Orthodox chu rch e s , to b e fol l owe d b y s c h o o l s a n d p r i nt i n g houses. The Vilno Holy Spirit Monastery became the leading ‘methodological centre’ in the management of education. A monastery school was set up on its premises and it later became the main educational centre in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It is not surprise that, after some time, the monks prepared a corresponding textbook for initial training. It was written in the Church Slavonic language, but its authors accidentally or intentionally added to the book a significant number of Belarusian words. Interestingly, in later editions, there were even separate texts written in Belarusian.

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the progenitor of a fundamentally new tradition of education, important for Eastern Europe,” Mr. Susha notes. “It The first part of The Primer contained was based on local features, preserved the alphabet: the Church Slavonic Byzantine practice in prayers, confession alphabet and syllables; they were used to of faith, virtues. In brief, it preserved the teach children how to combine letters. cultural aspects common to our land.” The first Primer has no indication of its Texts for study then followed. Instead of ‘Mother washes the frame’ lines, children authors. It is only known that the book was of the early 17th century read the lists of prepared by wandering monks of the Vilno monastery. One of the possible compilers was Melety Smotritsky. This cultural figure repeatedly manifested himself in publishing: for example, the publication of his Trenas — with quite tough attacks on royal authority and the church, causing him to be expelled from several institutions. After being thrown out of the Vilno monastery, the brothers of faith moved the printing house to the town of Evie which belonged to Bogdan Oginski — one of the patrons of the monastery. It is there that Melety Smotritsky printed his Grammar — a logical continuation of The Primer. The second most probable author was Leonty Karpovich — the head of the monastery, the printing house and the local school. He was an active enlightener and preacher, wellinformed in book and general publishing. Melety Smotritsky studied at western universities, travelled a lot and read foreign languages. He knew the European practice A page from one of the world's first primer books of enlightenment and, naturally, used it. Leonty Karpovich worked commandments, Christian blessings, with Stefan and Lavrenty Zizany, he saw virtues and sins — to learn how they many Vilno and foreign books. Those should not behave. Accordingly, the educators knew the Greek, Latin and publication simultaneously performed Polish traditions of publishing books. So, not only an educational but also a moral they used the best moments of European role. education, connecting them with local “It is necessary to understand that realities, in their language and spiritual The Primer was not generally a book and educational practice. for elementary education. In Europe, However, there were also differences there already existed publications of from the Latin primers. For example, the kind — known as ‘ABECedaria’ and pupils were offered to the list of ‘Alphabets’ — but The Primer became covenants, blessings, ‘instructions of the

For the mind and for the soul

R Lord’ and so on. Naturally, all of them were taken from the Bible, but these lists were also accompanied by references to the spiritual authorities of Byzantine Christianity.

Textbook for the Emperor Which book did children use to study in the 17th century? Along with Mr. Susha, we are thumbing through photos of printed pages (unfortunately, there is no original in Belarus). “About fifteen years ago, for the first time, I read that somewhere in foreign libraries the oldest primer was kept and allegedly it was published in Belarus,” he says. “I was hooked on this information, so when I had an opportunity to go to London on a business trip, I decided to try to find that book. In the library of Middle Temple, I became convinced that the book was no a mistake or myth. Later I managed to find and work with a Danish copy; modern researchers can compare these two.” The original of The Primer has a usual wooden cover, which was previously covered with leather. On the title page, the arms of the Oginski family — patrons of the publishing business — are placed. The next page is a prayer, without which no good publication began in those days. Then the reader gets acquainted with the alphabet. For specialists it is well understood, but it would be hard for a modern ignorant person to deal with ‘fetuses’ and ‘ipsilons’. The letters are printed both in direct and reverse order. An interesting feature is related to the letter ‘г’ — there are two of them. Thus, the student immediately separated the explosive ‘г’ and the fricative ‘г’ — natural for Belarusian and Ukrainian languages. In previous editions, such isolation is almost never found but here, in the textbook, it is presented as a norm. As for the visual part, despite the small format, the printers tried to make the book beautiful. They used fonts of different sizes, cast-set ornament, initial letters, endings and screensavers. Some elements were made in the style close to the design of books by Francysk Skaryna.

“One of the paradoxes of The Primer, despite many copies and frequent reprints, only a couple of copies have been preserved. The books were not destroyed — as some might think: readers used them so actively that they literally wore them out. The copy in London was preserved only because it was purchased by a collector and spent several centuries in the archives without being read,” adds Mr. Susha. T he t r a d it i on of publ i sh i ng educational books in Belarus ended after the first split of the Rzecz Pospolita and resumed only in the early 20th century. However, the initiative — born 400 years ago — took root in other lands and found continuation.

Melety Smotritsky

The word of ‘bukvar’ (Primer) joined dozens of languages, including Gypsy, Montenegrin, Bulgarian, Chukchee, Yakut, not to mention Belarusian, Russian and Ukrainian. It is interesting that Simeon Polotsky attached a great deal of importance to the distribution of The Primer. It’s well-known that the educator and teacher from Polotsk was the tutor of the Russian Tsar’s children. After the publication appeared in Russia, Simeon Polotsky in 1679 released the most complete and most accurate primer in Moscow and gave it to the little prince, who later became known in history as Peter I. So, who knows, maybe ‘western

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Modern icon depicting Leonty Karpovich

influences’ — for which Simeon Polotsky was criticised — had an effect, including on the world outlook of the Russian Emperor? By the end of August, employees of the National Library promise to issue a three-volume facsimile edition of the world’s first alphabet. It is planned that one volume will accurately convey the content of the ancient book, the second will accommodate its translation into modern Belarusian, and the third will collect research on historical, cultural, pedagogical, linguistic and other aspects. In addition, preparations are being made for the celebration of the first edition in the National Library of Belarus, in Vilnius, where the primer was conceived, and in London, where the only complete copy survived, and in many other cities: Moscow, Paris, the UN Headquarters in Switzerland… A foreign researcher will be interested to see the first primer in the world for several reasons. Some will see an important step in the history of education, others will be able to trace an important shift in the development of Church Slavonic language, others will appreciate the important phenomenon of book culture or see it as a significant event in the history of religion and spirituality. By Rogneda Yurgel

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ialogue with the beauty

‘I definitely won’t waste money partying’ Miss Belarus-2018 shares her dreams, and plans for the future

he girl I met in a Minsk cafe on a sunny June morning didn’t look like she might be the new Miss Belarus. However, Maria Vasilevich is often recognised on the street, being asked for a photo or simply looked at. She admits, “I was initially embarrassed but now try to respond in a friendly fashion, smiling and exchanging a few words.” She recently received her BSEU diploma, without any concession for her new title, which pleases her greatly.

BELTA

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D Life after the crown Just a few days ago, I defended my diploma paper, with nine grades. However, I was much more worried during the state exams. I’ve been preparing my diploma paper since my second year of studies. I was writing my course work and, by the time they transformed into a final paper, I knew the subject almost by heart. During state exams, there were so many questions, and our rector unexpectedly entered. He’s a professor in our department and I became anxious, finding it hard to concentrate. Luckily, once I got going, I was alright. We’ve all received our diplomas, now, and the ceremony was beautiful: touching and slightly sad… This isn’t a farewell to your alma mater, as you’re continuing your studies, for a doctor’s degree, isn’t that right? Absolutely. Moreover, the PR company — where I worked as an account manager — is waiting for me. I’m not sure whether I’ll manage to combine everything, taking into account the time available, but I really enjoy working in the advertising sphere. Preparations will soon begin for the Miss World Pageant, so I’ll need a month off for those. It seems wrong to keep asking for leave, as if I’m letting people down, so I’ll look for a job with flexible hours or part-time. I’d be bored spending all day at home and just going to the university in the evening. Taking into consideration the obligations and volume of work relating to the Miss Belarus title, you won’t have time to just stay at home. Have you managed any rest? Well, nobody gave me a full week to sleep [smiling]. There were some half-day breaks but I gave myself all of the past weekend, to attend the baptism of my nephew; it was so exciting and a great responsibility. Gradually, I’m coming to my senses, and hope to go holidaying this summer. You’ve received one of the major prizes: a white SUV Geely Atlas. How do you feel behind the wheel? Wow! It’s my first car: I received my licence at the age of 19 but never drove, until recently. My father or brother went out with me the first week and praised my driving. I’m now enjoying it. Like most people with their first car, I’m trying to drive almost everywhere: for the simplest chores, or to go shopping with my mother. In late May, you met up with the girls from the Miss Belarus pageant… We didn’t manage to gather everyone, since it’s a true challenge to gather all thirty of us, from across the regions. We met during our graduation party, and I holidayed with the girls from the top ten. We plan to meet up again, sometime. Are you in love with anyone? There’s much speculation… A journalist picked up on my admission that I don’t have a boyfriend, so I’ve been enjoying increased attention

ialogue with the beauty

from the opposite sex! Of course, it’s nice but I’m only interested in being friendly. Speaking of your friends… have they been genuinely happy for your victory? All my true, close friends have remained so, which is very important to me. Those who show jealousy, or other negative reactions, aren’t my true friends, so it doesn’t worry me. Whoever holds the Miss Belarus title is bound to be the subject of gossip and speculation, with stories abundant online. One says that Maria is the daughter of one of the top‑10 Belarusian businessmen. “We all had a good laugh about that ‘trusted truth’,” says Maria. “I come from an ordinary family: mum works in a kindergarten as an assistant teacher and my father — a former military man — works as a taxi driver.

Not for show Maria hasn’t yet received her cash prize of Br12,000 (for the time of giving this interview) but is already involved in

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ialogue with the beauty

Maria Vasilevich with her parents

charity work. For example, on Children’s Day, she took presents to Minsk’s orphanage #5. “I have personal savings and could spend a certain sum.” She shrugs her shoulders, as if speaking of ordinary shopping. “I harboured some stereotype regarding orphans and was rather nervous of meeting them, worrying that they wouldn’t like my gifts. I wasn’t sure how they would react to me, but they accepted me warmly, and I soon forgot my fears. The younger and older children hugged me happily. Only the 17-18‑yearolds sat some distance away and behaved with restraint, but they approached me to take photos. All others were evidently happy. I don’t know who was more pleased: they on receiving my presents or me — seeing their smiles.” I like that you went ‘quietly’, of your own choosing. People often bring up this subject, asking if it’s obligatory to be engage in charity events, but I prefer to act from the heart. I was involved in charity activities before, but my title enables me to do so on a greater scale. With media help, I can raise awareness of specific causes, reminding everyone that they can help, even in small ways. How will Maria spend her prize money? She isn’t keen on fur coats but has her own plans. “Partially on charity,” she explains, “And partially on my education, but also on preparations for the Miss World Pageant, which requires certain clothes and cosmetics. I definitely won’t waste it on partying!” The Miss World Pageant will take place in China in December but time is passing quickly and specialists of the National Beauty School have already started preparations. Maria is studying information on the show and listening to recommendations of former participants, such as the first Miss Belarus, from 1998: Svetlana Kruk. Speaking of the talent competition, she tells us, “I think I’ll dance, as I’ve been training for a long time — trying almost all styles, including pop, contemporary dance and hip-hop. I

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took a break for the last two years but I still have my skills. If I prepare well — with the help of professionals, I think we can come up with a nice show. Actually, I believe any enterprise needs preparation — to understand what awaits you.” Regardless of the outcome of the Miss World Pageant, which direction are you heading for next: advertising, TV, modelling or something else? I want to complete my post-graduate studies in the ‘manager-economist’ speciality and receive my diploma (accepted domestically and abroad). I’ll also improve my English, which will be needed during the Miss World contest, in everyday life and for work. Perhaps, I’ll try to realise my dream of becoming a TV presenter. All journalists agree that, to succeed, you don’t need to graduate from the Journalist Department. Rather, you need a professional school or TV mastery course. These are followed by casting and the search for a proper avenue of work.

Beauty secrets Our women readers won’t forgive me if I fail to ask for some beauty tips. Is your appearance down to good genes, a healthy lifestyle or a particular diet? I wouldn’t think too much about genetics, otherwise you might be stressed if your mother or grandmother is overweight. Proper nutrition and exercise, in any form, will help you look well: to control weight, have clear skin, keep in good shape and so on. Probably, because of stress and the intense competitive regime, I’ve lost several pounds and don’t feel comfortable. I hope to soon return to my normal weight. It doesn’t require something special; like anyone else, I sometimes like to eat — for example, during the long New Year holidays. During the competition, we were offered a correct, balanced diet. It was difficult to follow for a couple of days but, now, I can’t eat fatty foods anymore, nor bread. However, I ate a bun, recently, at university. If you want to improve your shape, eat properly and slightly increase your physical activity (don’t be fanatical). You should accustom your body to change and results will follow: not quickly but steadily. What would you recommend to young Belarusians participating in the next Miss Belarus Pageant? Not to follow others, not to try to resemble them; believe in yourself and have an inner core. The competition isn’t just about outer beauty, but inner. The title is not simply an award: it’s a responsibility and a mission. To be worthy, it’s important to pay attention to the catwalk and book reading, sports and intellectual selfdevelopment. Interviewed by Victoria Teleshuk

orthy finish

Darya Domracheva retires from sport Four-time Olympic biathlon champion keen to devote more time to her family

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he quadruple Olympic biathlon champion has announced her retirement, speaking at a press conference hosted by the headquarters of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus. While admitting that it was a tough decision, Darya Domracheva asserts that she wishes to devote more time to her family.

“After the end of the season, I was trying to find a compromise between raising my child and continuing my professional career. Unfortunately, I failed to find a decision that would enable me to combine these two very important spheres. I gave this a lot of thought, before deciding to retire.” Summarising her sporting career, Darya noted that she never dreamt of achieving so much. “My major goal

has always been to do my best. The charm of sport, especially biathlon, is its unpredictability. I retire with fond memories, to which I’ll often return. Of course, there were competitions at which I could have performed better but, overall, I’m pleased with how everything went,” she noted. She stressed that the President of the country was already aware of her decision. “I tried to inform everyone; all those involved in my sporting career. I’d love to continue but the sporting life is hard, as we know. I believe that this is the right decision for me. I hope that all my fans will understand, and I’d like to personally thank everyone for their support,” she summed up. Darya Domracheva has won four Olympic gold medals: three awards in Sochi and one in PyeongChang. The Belarusian also claimed bronze in Vancouver and silver in PyeongChang, and boasts two gold, four silver and one bronze medal from world championships, as well as one victory in the World Cup overall standings. By Ilya Kryzhevich

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heatre

Postscript to the jubilee

Jurmala-2018

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anzhelika grekovich

It was a hot summer for the artists of the Gennady Gladkov Theatre, before their Territory of the Musical, which successfully opened in Minsk five years ago, closed the season. The troupe have recently returned from Baltic Jurmala where they participated in the International Festival of Music, Theatre and Cinema — Jūras Pērle.

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Anastasia Grinenko and Dmitry Yakubovich are always together

at the Belarusian State Philharmonic Society strengthened him in the idea of creating an author’s theatre: there were many like-minded people among Belarusians and he decided to establish his musicals in Minsk. At present, there are about fifty people in the troupe and the repertoire is full of attractive names. A new musical was recently added: ‘Ordinary Miracle’, while the musical presentation of the performance was held on the eve of the celebration of the theatre’s

5th anniversary. The premiere of one of the best works of Gennady Gladkov became the second in Belarus. Five years ago, this musical first appeared in the Belarusian State Academic Musical Theatre. Explaining why it was decided to stage the play at the author’s theatre, director Anastasia Grinenko notes, “Today’s younger generation is, unfortunately, not familiar with the play by Yevgeny Schwartz and the film by Mark Zakharov but, in fact, the theme of love, human relationships, immediacy and uniqueness of every moment is eternal! Therefore, we’ve decided to tell the modern youth this story with theatrical language. Young viewers will see themselves in the characters, because the main characters — the Bear and Princess — just fall in love, quarrel, find out about their relationship, come up with their own ‘tragedies…” Mr. Schwartz’s play is still relevant: ‘Ordinary Miracle’ is a comedy with philosophical themes. The most beautiful and witty text contains wisdom for all events: spectators will have many reasons to laugh and cry while watching the performance. The visual decision of the musical i s ste am - pu n k . A r t i st s A n d re y Merenkov (scenography) and Yulia Babaeva (costumes) spent several months searching for the elements of the performance design: various

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his theatre — specialising in the development and popularisation of the genre of the musical — is still young. Its youth is a great advantage since, in a short time, the troupe — positioning itself as a theatre company with an independent creative policy and a fresh modern view of art — has managed to create an attractive repertoire and gain a permanent audience, also successfully celebrating its first anniversary in Minsk Museum of History of Theatrical and Musical Culture. The exhibition, entitled ‘The Ordinary Wizard’, presented the main creative milestones of the theatre, as well as being devoted to co-operation with the People’s Artist of Russia, composer Gennady Gladkov. It was also possible to learn how everything began. Olga Nikolaevskaya — the Deputy Director for the Theatre’s Development — explains that, back in 2007, the present heads — Dmitry Yakubovich (director, artist and choreographer) and Anastasia Grinenko (artistic director) — worked at the Belarusian State Musical Theatre where they decided to stage ‘The Town Musicians of Bremen’ musical and went to Moscow to composer Gladkov to get some music. He welcomed the guests warmly, but his friend Vasily Livanov (a Russian actor who played the role of the legendary Sherlock Holmes) was more sceptical: many directors of the post-Soviet region undertook to stage Mr. Gladkov’s performances, but he was not enthusiastic about most of them. Sometimes he even avoided the premieres. Mr. Livanov — co-author of the ‘Town Musicians of Bremen’ — reminded the composer of that fact, during his meeting with Belarusians. Despite this, everything went well. The premiere was successful and Mr. Gladkov’s co-operation with the Musical Theatre continued. Following the ‘Town Musicians of Bremen’, ‘12 Chairs’ was staged, as well as the ‘Ordinary Miracle’ musical. The composer’s artistic night

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During rehearsals

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Photo session of playbill for ‘Ordinary Wonder’ musical

mechanisms, props, detail of costumes. ‘Things with age’ were purchased in flea markets, in vintage shops in Minsk and Vilnius. The audience saw on the stage a locomotive and many mechanisms referring to the 19th century, the era of technological development and the general fascination with science in trying to comprehend the world. Costumes and props of the performance are distinguished by scrupulous elaboration of details. Gas masks, flying goggles, ‘Plague Doctor’ masks are only a part of the associative series that the artists of the play conceived to combine epochs. Interesting archive materials connected with the musical ‘Ordinary Miracle’ and the composer Gennady Gladkov’s works — ‘Town Musicians of Bremen’, ‘Dog in the Manger’, ‘Blue Puppy’, ‘12 Chairs’, etc. — were presented at the exhibition: ‘Ordinary Wizard’. The public also saw the claviers and scores of Gennady Gladkov’s theatrical performances with author’s annotations and autographs, the composer’s significant works for different periods of his creative activity, costumes and props for the plays of the Territory of the Musical, photographs and memorable relics associated with the life of the theatre. Interestingly, in July, the museum hosted a series of musical evenings with the participation

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of the leading soloists of the theatre and young artists. For example, Yelena Babuk, Alisa Lapenok and Alexandra Sinyukovich — who most fully revealed themselves in the musical genre — performed with the programme ‘From Classics to Musical’. The favourite of the public — Denis Nemtsov, a soloist of the Territory of the Musical and the Belarusian State Musical Theatre — performed his own songs for the first time. He’s played dozens of roles, both main and minor characters, in operettas and musicals, he worked with various masters of the Musical Theatre and long ago earned the title of a ‘star’. Dmitry Yakubovich, in turn, presented a solo concert in ‘face to face’ format during his artistic night. The museum has no theatrical ramp and orchestra pit which separates actors from the public. This closeness and confidence made it possible to better understand how the performer and head of the only professional private theatre in Belarus managed to create the first musical theatre in the country. Territory of the Musical is already a real creative team of like-minded people. This was highlighted by Dmitry Yakubovich during an interview at the premiere of the ‘12 Chairs’ musical where he played the role of Ostap Bender. Speaking of the Latvian tour, he notes, “All the invited artists showed

Princess played by Yelena Babuk

a very high level of professionalism. They worked smoothly, without whims or nerves and, most importantly, in a wonderful creative atmosphere which, of course, is influenced by the place: sunny Jurmala and the famous Dzintari Concert Hall. The idea of the festival to collect favourite artists in a wonderful hospitable place for them to sing their best hits pays for itself. The singers performed the music of Vladimir Vysotsky, Alexander Zatsepin, Alexey Rybnikov, Gennady Gladkov and other masters of Russian culture with obvious pleasure. We were invited as the author’s theatre of maestro Gladkov with shows from our repertoire. We were joined by cinema and theatre ‘stars’. A remarkable impression was left because of co-operation with People’s Artist Mikhail Boyarsky, honoured artists Anna Kovalchuk and Leonid Serebrennikov, conductor Lev Dunaev, director Gennady Shagaev, guitarist Andrey Melnikov who accompanied me in the romance of Nalimov from the ‘Hussar’s Matchmaking’. All colleagues recognised our theatre as a team of interesting bright people, with whom it is pleasant to work and communicate. Such creative trips are very important since they enable us to see at what level we are at now and to gain experience and realise whether we are moving in the right direction. We are grateful

T invited to the festival dedicated to music, theatre and cinema; he brought a programme featuring numerous ‘stars’ — like the Belarusians. There were unexpected duets and ensembles. The voice of Honoured Artiste of Russia — Leonid Serebrennikov — is heard in over 70 movies, including with the music of Gennady Gladkov (‘Ordinary Miracle’, ‘Dulcinea del Toboso’). At the Jūras Pērle Festival, he performed another legendary hit by the maestro: ‘The Ray of the Golden Sun’, in a duet with the young soloist of the Territory of the Musical, Artem Pinchuk. In addition, with People’s Artiste of Russia, Gennady Gladkov’s friend and artistic partner — Mikhail Boyarsky, soloists of the Minsk theatre ‘revived’

several famous cinema melodies: ‘Was not There’ (‘A Man from Boulevard des Capucines’) and ‘Hussar March’ (‘The Hussar’s Matchmaking’). As part of the Jurmala creative programme, the Belarusian troupe of the Gennady Gladkov Theatre presented their own unique shows directed by Anastasia Grinenko, from the musicals: ‘Ordinary Miracle’, ‘12 Chairs’, ‘The Dog on the Manger’ and ‘The Hussar’s Matchmaking’. All these performances will be available to the Minsk audience: they will be staged at the Palace of Culture of Trade Unions starting from September. In the meantime, our ‘stars’ are deservedly enjoying a brief period of rest and recuperation. By Mikhalina Cherkashina

anzhelika grekovich

to the organisers who invited us, are satisfied with our performances and intend to support the creative and friendly ties that we have established at the Jūras Pērle Festival.” Olga Nikolaevskaya admits: this was a true success. She is delighted with the trip, explaining that she continues with her admiration of the actors as long as she works at the theatre. In Jurmala, they showed their talent even more — mostly thanks to the warm and friendly atmosphere. All the performances were truly creative and inspiring. Over 40 artistes, theatrical troupes, famous and beloved actors and directors of different countries, appeared on the Dzintari stage for five days. The author’s theatre of Alexey Rybnikov was also

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Final accords of the gala-concert dedicated to first jubilee of the theatre

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xposition

Two paths to comfortable life

On August 8th, 2018, at eight seconds past 8.08am, Vladimir Prokoptsov launched his ‘My Belarus’ exhibition. Mr. Prokoptsov is a member of the Belarusian Union of Artists, the General Director of the National Museum of Art, and an Honoured Artist of the Republic of Belarus. With pleasure, his exhibition is dedicated to the Year of Native Land and marks his 65th birthday.

Vladimir Prokoptsov likes to be unique: his show at the National Art Museum will last 8 days, 8 hours, 8 minutes and 8 seconds. Being born on the eighth day of the eighth month of the year, he has a special relationship with the number eight. The exhibition demonstrated pictorial works from various times and hosted a presentation of the album which presents the author’s artistic palette in detail. Speaking of his ‘My Belarus’ exhibition, he tells us, “The project includes my works dedicated to my ‘small homeland’. My administrative w or k i s t i m e - c on s u m i n g s o I work as an artist at the weekends and holidays. I want to show my philosophical outlook on life. Since I have a specialised education, it’s very important for me to announce myself as an artist.” The show unites thirty paintings, with the last finished almost on the night before the presentation. “This picture is devoted to museum employees of various generations. We continue their work, transforming our cultural institutions in the museum quarter,” he adds. The Chairman of the Council of the Republic, Mikhail Myasnikovich, who has been on friendly terms with Vladimir for many years, has also come to congratulate the hero of the day. “He’s a very charismatic person, moved by all manner of events, not only relating to the world of art. With his help, Belarusians and visitors to

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the country can discover fine art and the boundless talent of our people,” stressed Mr. Myasnikovich. Vladimir Prokoptsov continues the traditions of Vitebsk art school. Actually, he received his artistic education in Vitebsk in the 1980s. Today, he is an artist with his own philosophical view of the world. Mr. Prokoptsov continues to take part in many exhibitions and international plein air workshops. Annua l ly his cre at ive legac y is expanding from visiting memorable places at his small homeland: where he was born, made his first steps on the father’s land and entered big life. The canvases on show span many decades but most explore the theme of love and nostalgia for his native village of Zhgunskaya Buda, in the Gomel Region, where his family home is found, surrounded by its garden, river and trees… The master’s works are kept at the National Art Museum of Belarus, as well as at the National Art Museum of Lithuania, and at the National Art Museum of China, and in corporate and private collections. For the past two decades, Vladimir Prokoptsov has combined his artistic endeavours with his duties as the Director General of the National Art Museum of Belarus. He has two lives: as the director of the country’s main museum and as an artist. However, it seems to suit him. You didn’t expect to become a museum director, but it’s what fills

your day. Does painting remain only a hobby for you? I take it seriously, as you must if you wish to announce yourself as an artist and exhibit works. As the museum’s director, I’m naturally scrutinised by fellow artists since I purport to ‘lead them’. In declaring myself as an artist, I need to follow the rules of the game. If it was only a hobby, I’d paint purely for pleasure. However, it’s more than a hobby. Of course, I lack time, being unable to work from morning until evening as a freelance artist. I can only work in the evening or at night, at the weekend and on holidays. To make a brilliant picture and be recognised as a talented artist, much effort is needed and many works should be painted. Meanwhile, you might create a hundred paintings without them being ‘great’. Sometimes, only one or two are such, so it’s perhaps better to create just one picture a year and for it to be amazing, touching the soul and stirring a response. Ordinary viewers will have a different perspective to professionals, no doubt. I’m cultivating my skills but I’m aware that I’m in competition with my colleagues. It’s easier for me to work with the expert committee since I’m not only an academic director. I also visit open-air workshops and the exhibition at the National Art Museum is my third show. My works are exhibited at the Artists’ Union and I also contribute to major shows. Why does the style of your pictures vary? It depends on my mood and desire to experiment. I used to combine realism

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Veniamin Mikheev

This work was finished by Vladimir Propkoptsov only a few hours before the opening of the exhibition

with impressionism but my recent pictures are more decorative. It probably comes with age and experience. I have a different mental outlook and ‘rhythm’ today; it’s as if I’m in a chariot and can’t stop. I present my feelings on the canvas. Are works by Belarusian artists interesting to foreign audiences? Yes; of course. In fact, the Belarusian school, especially the realist school of our older generation, is rated highly. Europe lacks such a level today. Should a museum try to guide visitors’ taste? It’s essential. A museum should not operate without an aim: its mission is education and teaching. It’s an educational centre. Our museum is becoming more active, branching out. An exhibition doesn’t need to be limited to art works; it can continue its theme along various avenues, for the pleasure of children and adults. Our museum has received a lot of funding to modernise its halls and raise salaries, with the aim of guiding public taste. A museum must act ‘aggressively’, in the best sense, being three steps ahead — especially in our modern times of globalisation. Visitors should be enticed, through lectures and excursions.

I’m convinced that museums are educational; no other purpose is needed. How is museum infrastructure developing? I hope we’ll soon complete our work in the museum quarter. Are you drawing on foreign experience? When I visit a foreign country and local galleries, I focus on how works are displayed, looking at the flooring and lighting. I look with my ‘manager eyes’ first, and only then view the pictures. In your twenty years of directorship, have you seen visitors become more demanding? Of course. We have the Internet now, so people can take a virtual tour of the Tretyakov Gallery or some other museum. Modern art lovers can take a two-hour trip on a Belavia plane to Paris, to see the Mona Lisa. Nothing can surprise us now. Audiences are true gourmands of art: demanding and sophisticated. We need to be ready for this, keeping up with today’s technologies, exhibition styles, methods and staff training. It’s a global issue so I, as museum director, cannot remain idle. I keep my staff from resting on their laurels, although some may dislike this.

In the 1960-1970s, the museum was a safe harbour; now, it must earn money, as well as promoting the country’s image and organising international projects. Our visitors wish to see a Marc Chagall show or a Tretyakov Gallery exhibition. Moreover, museum staff should know foreign languages. In a word, the museum format needs expansion. Are you ‘fighting’ for visitors? We fight for every visitor. Only interesting exhibitions and programmes attract visitors so an ideal modern museum is a large cultural industry. Is a museum director a manager or an academic? Everything together. I can hardly imagine a manager — rather than a painter or art critic — as a National Art Museum director. Can you imagine an economist heading the Hermitage or the Tretyakov Gallery? I personally cannot. Of course, these museums have their own managers but must be headed by a specialist. A museum director is a universal figure: they should be a manager, an economist and an art critic. This is why I have no shame in continuing to learn something new. By Veniamin Mikheev

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xhibition with associations

Paintings, happiness and multi-coloured days The Panorama Gallery, at the National Library of Belarus, is showcasing the project — pictures by two Belarusian painters — Irina YusyukaytDudareva and Tatiana Grinevich who style themselves as artists with broad world outlooks and an aesthetic perception of life ‘Orchids’

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xhibition with associations

‘Bouquet’

On the happiness waves

t’s enough just to buy a cheap ticket to the observation area of the National Library and, using the beautiful panoramic still-life made by the Finnish KONE and with a transparent glass prismatic wall on the other side, rise to the 2nd floor. This is 73m above ground. When moving in the lift, one immediately gets the feeling of flight and from this exciting height a wonderful and eye-catching panorama of Minsk opens up. The landscape and position of the library makes the observation area very attractive for tourists who can get a bird’s eye view of Minsk. With the same elevated mood, we entered the gallery where an exhibition by my two artists had opened. Even if we’d had to use an ordinary lift to reach the gallery, I would still feel a sense of anticipation and everything about the exhibition is simple. Irina and Tatiana’s pictures have so much positive energy, kindness and purity that one involuntarily begins to feel spiritual elevation. The exhibition presents works created by the painters in recent years. The artists believe that painting is a universal language which can be understood by any nationality. In my opinion, even before seeing something we begin to feel the energy of the item with which we want to get familiar and I’d even say to

establish a contact. As physicists say, the law of vibrations begins to work… The artists themselves give their thoughts. “Our exhibition is entitled ‘Coloured Days’. What were we inspired by? Each day of our life is different. It’s like a kaleidoscope made of bits of coloured glass, while the mood for the work could be a coloured filter of past days. Each picture is an attempt to stop time, and an opportunity to see the world via the author’s window, through his eyes,” notes Irina Yusyukayt-Dudareva. Tatiana Grinevich also shares her thoughts, “Our exhibition is a story about the beauty of a moment. In my pictures I express a whole palette of feelings and emotions which are aroused

Tatiana Grinevich

by images. Each picture is a small story which a spectator will see and read in their own way.” Just as in poetr y and music, pictorial images are created with the help of metaphors, various associations and rhythms. The pictures by Irina and Tatiana are similar in theme but different in perception. Each of them is a small universe on a quadrangle of ordinary cloth, imbued with light and filled with feelings of the happiness of life. I personally was greatly impressed with the exhibition and didn’t want to leave these pictures, as they had so much sun, joy and praise of The One who created us and gave us an opportunity to feel happy.

‘Movement towards a Dream’

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The creativity of Irina and Tatiana is well-known in Belarus, as well as beyond its borders. The painters take an active part in Republican and international exhibitions and their pictures can be seen in the National Centre of Contemporary Art of the Republic of Belarus, alongside private collections in Belarus, Germany, Italy and other states.

Irina Yasyukayt-Dudareva

‘I will believe it when I see it’ says a person; ‘You will see it when you believe’ responds the Universe

ach time I meet Irina I remember this phrase, which comes from an unknown author. I have known her since she graduated from the Academy of Arts in 2009. Before entering the Academy, along with Tatiana, she studied at the Minsk Art College named after A. K. Glebov. Irina is a calm, wise and even reserved person. In my opinion, she is also a person with rich inner depths. It seems to me that Irina feels the delicate moments of life which are disregarded by other people, including those who are far away from art. She believes in auctor rerum creatorum — Christ, and in the beauty of life, so she can reflect on canvas what she feels and sees with her internal eyesight. Moreover, Irina works at St. Elisabeth Convent as a painter and has two young children: daughter Yana and son Arseny. Her husband, Maxim Dudarev, is also a painter. One would like to say she is the one that believes and

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‘Music of the Wind’

radiates spirituality… her soul radiates from her pictures. I spent a long time near her work ‘Flower Heads. Jump’, and it seemed that at any moment I would rise over the floor and follow the girls on the canvas into the world of beauty, love and the endless joy of existence. Thesefeelingspushedmetoremember the past. During my adoration of Irina’s pictures, my thoughts brought me to my adolescence, to the physics lessons which I enjoyed. I remembered its laws: the law of constant change of energy, the law of gravitation, the law of vibration, the law of rhythm… I still remember how our teacher in physics told us that energy doesn’t disappear anywhere and doesn’t appear from anywhere, it moves from one form to another… No one is surprised when we say that all our life and nature is built on rhythms. Everything in the world is created from energy and they constantly move. Each energy has its own frequency, in other

words, vibration. It is enough just to think about infra-red emissions when one sits near the fire, stretch a hand towards coals and feel the movement of heat from them. Scientists say that these are low frequencies. They say that a thought is the most high-frequency form of vibration. Of course, what we create is the result of our thoughts and feelings. Therefore, pictures bring the vibrations of a painter and they are also called waves. All this comes from an interesting section of physics, called quantum physics. Even there, in the gallery, I log onto the Internet where I found confirmation of my contemplations. Scientists from many countries have discovered that the energy of thoughts of many people, aimed at a single goal, unites into an energy-information field and then in society and in the surroundings a similar thing happens to that which they majority have been thinking. It has been long known that

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thoughts have a colossal power, able to directly either create or destroy. It has long been known that human thought is material, being a bundle of energy. Any word pronounced or read is a wave genetic programme which can change our life and the lives of other people. Human thought can create any programme for a DNA molecule which is the basis of all life on the Earth (https://galaktika.mirtesen.ru/). However, let’s leave this to scientists for now and use the commonly used ideas as ‘intuition’ and ‘sixth sense’… When I stood near Tatiana Grinevich’s works my thoughts again began to dwell on quantums. I was thinking about quantums of joy. However, I believe there is no such term in science and it’s better to say waves. Then, conducting an internal dialogue with myself, I made myself stand near her works and simply feel these waves of joy. What followed? I was overwhelmed with incredible joy from Tatiana’s smile and, undoubtedly, from her ‘Orchids’. Her picture ‘Meeting Dreams Halfway’ is already a philosophy which I explained to myself in the

‘Higher’

following way: any success in life won’t give as much joy if there’s no one to share it with. Therefore, we’re always moving in search of love and friends… Naturally, each will see in Tatiana’ work what they are thinking and dreaming about… I know Tatiana only by her works and from Irina’s words. Tatiana is a young mother who brings up two children. However, this doesn’t restrain her creativity. Vice versa, as she says, her daughters Mai and Radkhika give her emotions that is enough to paint pictures. Like Irina, she does it perfectly. I read somewhere that a style of life is an ability to find time to listen to silence, to see the sunset, an art to be where you are… this is also the search for unique opportunities to turn emotions into significant events in life. It seems to me that both painters who try to make their own unique and colourful style of life, succeed in this. ‘Dream on a Summer Day’

By Valentina Zhdanovich

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ood

Beware — cats! Road via Yatskovshchina village

Aisha was given her name three years ago, she is a variety known as tortoiseshell, when three colours merge and little white spots can be seen. This colour is determined, experts say, by a specific genetic combination. Cats like these are called ‘ryska’ in Belarusian villages. Ours had white touches on its legs and chest. She lived in the village of Yatskovshchina hidden amid the old maples, birch and oak along the road between Lyakhovichi and Kletsk, close to Nesvizh. It is here where the house we love to spend our weekends is situated; inherited by my husband from his parents. Though it is 160km from Minsk, it is an amazing place: the house is surrounded by an old apple orchard and is hidden from the road by a huge jasmine bush in the garden and a

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walnut tree planted by my late motherin-law, Olga Zhdanovich. Everything here is a reminder of my husband’s long departed parents: the house and apple trees, blackcurrant bushes, old raspberry bushes… and even the cat. They used to keep the ‘ryskas’ whose main job was to catch mice and rats, a role they performed successfully, receiving food and milk in return. I remember a warm autumn day when it came and sat at the entrance to the house. It didn’t make a sound — as if it was waiting to see how I would react to it. When I called to the cat, it began to cough and was clearly sick and very hungry. I gave it bread and cheese and poured it warm milk which it greedily drank. The cat didn’t leave until the plate was empty, to return the next morning for boiled

eggs, cheese and milk from us. Only after its breakfast, could it squeeze a sound, despite its cough, which resembled a purr of gratitude. That year was rich in apples and we went to the village regularly to gather ‘antonovka’ apples. The cat came every time. It responded to the name Aisha and enjoyed being stroked. However, it was still coughing. We did not know whether it would survive the winter with its feline bronchitis. We even thought about finding a good permanent home for it. “Don’t worry, we’ll feed it,” our elderly neighbour, Olga Kruglik assured us. “It comes to our house as well — to lie on the mat or sleep in the barn.” Olga told me it wouldn’t eat what she gave it after we’d fed it, so I had to confess that we bought it ‘Radzivilovskaya’

M sausages in Klets and fresh homemade milk. Olga told us that the cat was thrown out of a passing car. It was clear that she was not born in the village. Local cats usually run away from strangers. Aisha however, approached people herself. I can hardly imagine how the owners could have left such a peaceful creature. Former US Attorney General — John Ashcroft — was afraid of tortoiseshell cats: he believed they were a sign of the devil. Perhaps the owners of our cat got rid of it because they thought their pet was contagious. Or just decided not to spend time or money on treatment. God will be their judge, as they say. Olga and I would rather think that the tricolour cat — including Aisha — is a symbol of good luck for the whole village, as is commonly believed in the folklore of some cultures. Moreover, in 2001, three-coloured cats were declared official cats of the State of Maryland. Much can be found about tricolour and tortoiseshell cats on the Internet. They are appreciated by Japanese sailors who take them on trips, in the belief that they will protect them in the sea. In the United States, as well as in Belarus, cats with a combination of three colours are called ‘moneybringing’ cats. My husband once joked that we should have taken it to the city — to increase our family budget. When we came to the village in spring, we had no expectation that Aisha would return, as the winter was cold. I was thrilled when I noticed the familiar cat on the lane leading from the gate. When I called it, Aisha ran quickly towards me, with sounds of joy. She was no longer coughing but was obviously pregnant. I was truly happy to see that the cat had survived! I thought it was thanks to my neighbour, but Olga explained, “No, this is Valik’s work. He looked after our Tigra in winter as well. He came up from time to time and left some food. His barn is sturdy, and he put some furs in the cellar for the cat to

spend the winter. It was cold outside, but the cellar remained warm. It also came to my house sometimes.” Valik named my Aisha, Tigra (a tiger) — for its cleverness, cunning and agility, not only for its colour. He told me how the cat came to see him and stole food from the dog Zhuk’s plate to survive. Last winter, we left dry food for Aisha at Olga’s house; the cat ate it with pleasure — like anything else. Its character was wonderful: kind and affectionate. Even Olga’s cockerel did not attack the cat — allowing it to walk among the chickens: Aisha paid no attention to them. She was a truly unique cat: it did not mew or growl but talked. The sound which it produced when asking for food sounded like a combination of two letters — if feline sounds were translated into the human language. This was a short ‘mr’ — with a trilling ‘r’ repeated several times. This spring Aisha came not only to eat but to communicate. The cat used to lie on the grass making a highpitched purring noise. In the summer, she brought four kittens — as if to say: if you love me, love my offspring. We found them in the garage when coming out for a weekend. The kittens were wild and were afraid of us, but it seemed Aisha taught them not only to eat sausages and drink milk but also to accept us. She stayed by the garage and

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called ‘Mrr… mrr… mrrr…”. It seemed she was convincing the kittens that we were not dangerous. They then came out and swarmed around the cat, while we were watching and admiring them. It took a couple of weekends for them to become brave enough to approach us, keeping two metres away. Olga laughed, saying, “Why is it dragging the kittens from one place to another? Valik said they lived in his yard and they are here now…” Valik — Valentin Loiko — is a Minsk pensioner and our neighbour in Yatskovshchina. He lives in Minsk in winter and, from spring to autumn, stays at his parents’ house here (or, to be more correct, at the house of his grandparents). Valik has a large garden; well developed using the technology of sub-surface land processing (when everything necessary is planted into the unploughed ground and covered with straw). As a result, organic vegetables are grown. These beds with onion, garlic, parsley, lettuce and potatoes are aesthetically pleasing. He also grows many flowers, with his wife Irina. An ‘urban’ cat — a daughter of Aisha-Tigra from her first appearance — also travels to the village with Valentin. It is beautiful, with three colours — although white prevails. The cat likes sit in a house, on the windowsill. In the past,

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Valentin graduated from the Interior Ministry’s school. Like my husband, he studied at the Zherebkovichi high school, being a year older. Not long ago, I heard their recollections of how they used to sledge in the winter to the neighbouring village of Gulichi. Valentin’s mother — Alexandra — was my husband’s first teacher. Moreover, my husband told me that Valentin had a phenomenal memory: he could remember a hundred words at once and then still name them all in a couple of months. Like us, he also loves cats. We left Yatskovshchina with a light heart: it was summer, our cat was clever, and it would have time to teach its kittens how to catch mice. We left enough food and water for them for a week, on a tray in the garage: a half a loaf of bread was cut into pieces and each was covered with cod liver oil and tuna from cans. We also left a pack of sour cream in a bowl and squeezed a litre of milk — being convinced that Aisha would soon stop feeding its kittens with its own milk, as she was again heavy with young. We thought that if they were hungry, the cat would catch mice or take the kittens to Valik’s house. On July 22nd, Aisha was hit by a truck. When we came to the village two weeks later, my favourite, my friend didn’t come. There were also no kittens in the garage. Foreseeing something bad, I waited for it with many treats: enough for five cats. When I went to see Olga in the evening, I looked at the field which was clean of grain. It seemed the field was full of mice. I thought perhaps Aisha had eaten too much and decided not to visit us, or already had kittens. There is a state sometimes when we know for sure that something has happened. I knew the cat was gone but I tried to think positively. Kruglichikha — as Olga is called in the village — confirmed my thoughts. She cried when telling me of how they buried the cat. She said, “I came out for a whole week and the

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Valentin Loiko always spends summer in the village

cat was here, lying in the sun, then gone. Its kittens have gone to Valik’s. He noticed them sitting in the dark near a neighbouring well: several pairs of eyes shining in the darkness like fireflies… We then went to Valik, with all our treats — for four animals now. It was getting dark. From a distance, we saw a grey kitten running up and down the tree. On noticing us, it ran to a hole in the garage door — specially made by the caring host. Like us, Valik suffered as well: he loved our Aisha and his Tigra. He told us that his neighbour Nikolay — who comes to his parents’ house with his wife from Grodno — witnessed the accident. He said the driver was a local; he was trying hard to avoid the cat and was even close to crashing into an oak tree. Being from a village, the driver understood how useful a cat was for a farm. However, the speed was crucial. Here, 60km/h is

allowed, but drivers often exceed it. We concluded that the road signs at the start of villages should warn not only of cows but also of cats. I am confident that such a sign would force drivers to slow their speed to a minimum. Indeed, in many civilised countries, such signs are common; indeed, they help drivers. My husband once read that about 200 million cats live in 10 developed countries alone. I surf the Internet and find this information, as well as the data that the rating of the countries with the greatest number of cats has been prepared by the geographical service World Atlas. My husband has previously convinced the authorities to put signs along both sides of Knorin Street indicating the necessity to slow down for squirrels living in the neighbouring beautiful Sevastopol Park. In spring, these small animals used to cross the road and, in the last three years, none of them has been killed by a car. It’s getting dark, but we continued talking with Valentin about Aisha, remembering her habits and character and wondering how such a clever cat couldn’t avoid the truck. We were discussing what to do with its kittens. “As long as I’m here, they’ll be fed. I’ll come regularly,” he said, inviting me to come and see them, “By the winter season, they will have grown up a little bit. I have a warm barn…” We parted sadly until our next meeting. …I know that, on returning to Yatskovshchina, I will miss and remember Aisha. I will also buy ‘Radzivilovskaya’ sausages which the cat loved — to give to the kittens. I will also think about what should be done to ensure that signs with cats appear along our roads, at the entrance to villages and farms. By Valentina Zhdanovich

‘Venice Star over Bogdanovo’ by Vladimir Prokoptsov (2011)

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in heart of europe ), 2018

No. 7 (1018

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