Press releases

MINSK, 3 October (BelTA) – A plaque commemorating Belarusian national poet Yanka Kupala has been solemnly unveiled in the Finnish town of Imatra, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Embassy in Finland.

Taking part in the event were Imatra Mayor Kai Roslakka, Belarusian Ambassador Alexander Ostrovsky, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian Cultural Foundation Anatoly Butevich, Director of the Yanka Kupala State Literature Museum Yelena Leshkovich, journalists, literati and Belarusians living in Finland.

An exhibition Over Imatra dedicated to the life and work of Yanka Kupala opened in the winter garden of the town hall. The exhibits were provided by the Yanka Kupala State Literature Museum.

The commemorative plaque was created by Belarusian sculptor Pavel Voinitsky. The project was initiated by the Culture Ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus and local authorities of Imatra.

Yanka Kupala and other outstanding representatives of the Belarusian National Revival travelled to Finland along the route Saint Petersburg – Terijoki – Vyborg - Imatra on 21-22 June 1910. Inspired by the magnificent waterfall on the River Vuoksi he wrote a poem Over Imatra that was first published in the Nasha Niva newspaper on 22 July 1910 and made part of the third poetry collection Life Journey (1913). In 2010 the poem was translated into the Finnish language.