Opinions & Interviews

GRODNO, 1 June (BelTA) – All conditions have been created in Belarus for a comfortable life of people of any ethnic background, Igor Lyakishev, chairman of the Grodno regional office of the public association Russian Society, told BelTA ahead of the 11th Festival of National Cultures in Grodno.

“There is no ethnic discrimination in Belarus, especially with respect to Russians. We speak the same language with Belarusians. Our mindsets and cultures are similar,” Igor Lyakishev noted. “Our association promotes the conservation of Russian cultural values and historical traditions and the study of the Russian language and literature. We have faced no problems in this regard,” he added.

“Belarus’ unique feature is that it is a comfortable, calm and safe country for all people regardless of their ethnic, racial, and religious background. On behalf of 80,000 of Russian nationals living in Grodno Oblast, I can say that we feel comfortable here. Everything is simple. All you need is to work diligently, live by the law and your conscience, and everything will be fine. There is no discrimination, and we stand by the position that any attempts to harm the dignity of any ethnic group must be thwarted,” Igor Lyakishev noted.

As for the festival, he said the Russians are always pleased to take part in it. “Our pavilion will be at the same place as usual, near the Grodno Youth Center. I invite you to visit an old log house, drink tea from a samovar, taste pancakes with cherry jam, and enjoy balalaika performances,” Igor Lyakishev said.