Press releases

The official awards ceremony took place at the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theater in Minsk. The UNESCO medal was presented to Belarusian citizens for the first time. In 2015 the UNESCO medal Five Continents was awarded to the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater of Belarus.

According to First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Mikhnevich, the UNESCO Victor Hugo medal has been presented to cultural figures since 1985. “The decision of UNESCO to honor three Belarusian cultural figures demonstrate their recognition and considerable role in the preservation and development of the national culture. It also speaks about a high place the Belarusian culture occupies among the world cultures,” he stressed.

In turn, Pavel Latushko noted: “Belarus is a country with a rich history and culture. As in any other state, the history is made of facts and events which are made by concrete people, talented, creative and outstanding. For me as a Belarusian, a citizen of Belarus and a representative of Belarus in UNESCO it is a great honor to greet such distinguished people. The people who have in fact formed and continue developing the Belarusian national school of theater and music art.”

Tamara Nizhnikova is a singer, a teacher and the People’s Artist of Belarus and the USSR. The singer’s concert repertoire mainly included works of Belarusian composers and Belarusian folk songs. She was awarded with the Order of Fatherland 3 Class, the Order of Francysk Skorina, the Order of the Labor Red Banner and the Order of Friendship of Peoples.

Gennady Ovsyannikov is an actor and the People’s Artist of Belarus and the USSR. He works at the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theater. He is the holder of the State Award of Belarus, the special award of the President of the Republic of Belarus and the Order of Francysk Skorina.

Rostislav Yankovsky is the People’s Artist of Belarus and the People’s Artist of the USSR. Rostislav Yankovsky is the actor of the Maxim Gorky National Academic Drama Theater. He is the holder of the State Award of Belarus, the award “For Spiritual Revival”, the Orders of Fatherland 2 and 3 Class, the Order of Francysk Skorina, the Order of the Labor Red Banner and the Order of Friendship of Peoples.