News & Events in Belarus

The head of state remarked that the tradition to award distinguished people during New Year and Christmas celebrations that are very popular in the country has become a landmark event in the spiritual life of Belarus. “Every year in January we meet with extraordinary people healing our souls, protecting our memory, serving the ideals of mercy, kindness and beauty. The creative road is never easy, and today we will honor those who have been walking along this road with dignity reaching new heights in culture, art, journalism, sport,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

“History gave a unique chance to our creative people. This is a chance to make a contribution to the development of the Belarusian nation. Together with you, the present generations of people fulfilled the centuries-old dream of our ancestors to create the first independent Belarusian state in history. Today our common goal is to protect the freedom and independence of the country for the future generations,” the Belarusian leader said.

The President stressed that it is not easy to acquire independence. But it is even much more difficult to defend it. “The strength of spirit, solidarity and unity are the basic concepts, the foundation without which we cannot exist,” the head of state said. “Only a strong person knows what to do and where to go. A person without a strong core is destined to lose. Our people have never lacked the strength of spirit! Belarusians survived bloody wars, managed to hold out in the most difficult post-war time, restored the country from ruins, and now are doing their best to protect the sovereignty of the native country at the crossroads of cultures and historical fates.”

At the same time, Alexander Lukashenko remarked that certain people are still trying to say that Belarusians are the people without roots. “Such thinking is not accidental. Many people do not like independent Belarus living by its wits and labor. The mission of the true creator is to withstand any lies, any falsehood and hypocrisy. It is especially important when we talk about the Fatherland, the native country. This is the field of the spiritual battle for Belarus, for our values, ideals, and traditions. And to win this battle, to win it in the souls of people is the genuine noble mission of those whom we honor today,” the President is convinced.

The awards For Spiritual Revival were conferred on Abbot of St. Elisabeth Lavrishevo Monastery of the Novogrudok diocese Father Evsevy (Konstantin Tyukhlov), head of the residential and public architecture chair of the Belarusian National Technical University Sergei Sergachev, workers of the Belarusian rehabilitation center for disabled children and the Maxim Tank Belarusian State Pedagogical University, the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus.

Special prizes of the President were conferred on the teams of authors of the Golas Radzimy Newspaper, BelTA News Agency, Belarusian TV and Radio Company, the Michal Kleofas Oginski Museum Estate, Yevgeny Glebov children’s music school No. 10 in Minsk, the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theater, the Molodechno Culture Palace, the Gomel State Circus. The awards were also bestowed upon artist, member of the Belarusian Union of Artists Konstantin Vashchenko and head of the decorative art studio Belarusian Souvenir of the Soligorsk Art Center for Children and Youth Raisa Ramanenya.

The special prize Belarusian Sports Olympus was conferred on Ruslan Vasilyev, an editor at the team sports department at the Sportivnaya Panorama newspaper, Elvira German, an instructor of the national track and field team, and Alexander Shimkoviak, a basketball coach of the Grodno State School of Olympic Reserve.