Milinkevich presented the Belarusian Prize “For Freedom of Thought” (pictures, video)
Uladzimir Arlou, Ryhor Baradulin and Paval Seviaryniec have become first laureates of the Belarusian Award “For Freedom of Thought” (Za Svabodu dumki) named after Vasil Bykau.
The winners were nominated by the Awarding Committee of 30 persons, including most prominent writers, authors and public characters of Belarus. The award-giving ceremony was held in the yard of the Vasil Bykau museum in the village of Bychki (Ushachy district). Leader of the Movement for Freedom solemnly presented the 2008 winners of Vasil Bykau Prize. In addition to diploma in honor, he presented the laureates with a bronze statue “For Freedom of Thought” created by sculptor Viktar Kopach.
The idea to create this national award was born in 2006 when Aliaksandr Milinkevich was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament. During his speech in Strasbourg, Aliaksandr Milinkevich underlined that this Prize is awarded to all Belarusians who has been selflessly struggling for freedom of Belarus during March 2006 presidential campaign. He relinquished the financial part of Prize to victims of political repressions in Belarus. Last year, during the commemoration of Vasil Bykau’s birthday in Bychki, Aliaksandr Milinkevich announced about the establishment of the national Prize “For Freedom of Thought” to honour individuals who by their civic and/or artistic activities glorify Belarus and Freedom.
This year the Prize has been awarded to three persons. From the next year the annual award will be given to one person.
Many Belarusian prominent public figures were invited to the award-giving ceremony. Radzim Hareki, Zinaida Bandarenka, Ales Pushkin, Ludmila Hraznova, Aliaksandr Starykevich, Raman Yakauleuski, Stanislau Shushkevich, Valantsin Akudovich, Ada Raychonak, Uladzimir Niaklayeu, Aliaksandr Fiaduta, Maryna Koktysh, Uladzimir Khalip, Viachaslau Siuchyk, Valery Mazynski as many others were present during the ceremony. Singers Viktar Shalkievich and Andrei Plasanau brought up cheerful mood and nice atmosphere to the ceremony by their songs. The Priest Akalovich led the doxological prayer before the celebration.
Unfortunately, the authorities tried to intimidate the organizers of this peaceful event. An official from Ushachy executive threatened the Director of the Vasil Bykau museum, Mrs. Antanina Bykava (sister of the writer), with dismissal because she was not selling entrance tickets to each participant of the ceremony. But in reality, the amount of the participants’ donations to the museum has largely exceeded the price of tickets. A group of policemen in uniform and secret police agents in casual have been watching the ceremony from aside without interfering.
Note.
Vasil Bykau. The Belarusan anti-war and dissident writer who is universally acknowledged as the conscience of the Belarusian nation.
The Soviet Union banned many of Vasil Bykau's novels, which often focus on the agonizing moral dilemmas faced by young officers during the horrors of war.
Considered the best modern Belarusian writer and the last Eastern European literary dissident, Bykau (1924-2003) is referred to as the "conscience of a nation" for leading an intellectual crusade against Lukasenka's authoritarian regime.
In exile from Belarus for several years, he was given refuge by Vaclav Havel in the Czech Republic. He has been nominated for the Nobel Prize by Havel, Czeslaw Milosz, Joseph Brodsky and PEN.
http://bykau.org/menu-eng.html
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