News & Events in Belarus

VITEBSK, 14 July (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko presented Through Art Towards Peace and Understanding special award to Belarus People’s Artist Mikhail Finberg at the opening of the 25th international festival of arts Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk on 14 July, BelTA has learned.

One of the memorable events of this year’s festival was the opening the Square of Stars that has the star of the National Academic Concert Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus led by Mikhail Finberg, Alexander Lukashenko noted when speaking at the opening of the festival.

Mikhail Finberg, for his part, expressed his gratitude and said that 28 years have passed since the first festival in Vitebsk (it was the polish song festival o at first, which later transformed into Slavonic Bazaar – note by BelTA). “Together we have created the best festival in Europe. All together: you, we, our state and, of course, Alexander Lukashenko, who supported us when we had certain difficulties. They wanted to take this festival from us but we still host it. We love it and will do everything we can for it to remain the best,” Mikhail Finberg noted.

According to the President, the 25th anniversary of the festival is a great opportunity to express appreciation and sincere love for the people who create this forum. Honorary awards were given to the artists who made great personal contribution to the development of the festival. Order of Francysk Skaryna was presented to Sergei Petrov, film director, scriptwriter and producer, Oksana Antonyuk, director, host of concert and festival programs of the Honored Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and to Yelena Spiridovich, a special correspondent of the editors division of the TV programs directorate of the general producer center of the National State TV and Radio Company.

Alexander Lukashenko recalled that twenty years ago, there were suggestions “to set the festival on a journey around the world” which could have led to a loss of authenticity of this forum. “Back then, I had to take a serious look at Slavonic Bazaar and add “in Vitebsk” into the title, because some “well-wishers” wanted to steal it away from us and turn it into a purely commercial project. Everyone wanted to make money. If that had happened, we would not have had the festival today. These masters of ceremonies – Yelena Spiridovich, Vladimir Berezin and Oksana Antonyuk – have been the heart and soul of our festival for as long as I know them,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

Vladimir Berezin, for his part, pointed out that the Order of Francysk Skaryna was awarded to two remarkable women, Honored Artists of Belarus and Ukraine. “I have had a thought that I can make a wish right now. What should I ask the God and the fortune for? I need to ask for the things to remain as they are here today for at least another 25 years. For the festival to keep its international scope and, at the same time, maintain its cozy, warm and kind atmosphere. Second, I should wish the country that guards the festival as the apple of the eye, loves it and promotes its development, to live happily, so that we could visit Belarus for another 25 years with a feeling as if it were our homeland,” Vladimir Berezin said.

The Belarusian leader thanked the performers, directors and TV workers, the festival directorate and all those who have been organizing Slavonic Bazaar and partaking in the forum for a quarter of a century. He also said words of gratitude to the audience and viewers and devoted followers of the festival.

Winners of the International Pop Song Vitebsk gave Alexander Lukashenko a commemorative gift titled as Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk. 25.