Opinions & Interviews
Lukashenko: I am glad a citizen of Belarus has been awarded a Nobel prize
OSTROVETS, 9 October (BelTA) – While talking to Ostrovets District residents and construction workers that build the Belarusian nuclear power plant on 9 October Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko spoke about his attitude towards the fact that the Belarusian writer Svetlana Alexievich has been awarded a Nobel Prize, BelTA has learned.
The head of state said: “I am glad for her because she is a citizen of Belarus. The award means that regardless of your standing you can still work and create, write, speak your mind and so on in Belarus.”
Alexander Lukashenko remarked that he does not have profound knowledge of Svetlana Alexievich’s work yet he knows her works. “I know what she has mainly written. I know what the Nobel Committee had in mind as they were deciding on the award. She had been nominated for the award for more than one year,” said the President.
The head of state admitted that he does not consider Svetlana Alexievich as a member of the opposition. “It is good that a person has his or her own views albeit opposition ones in some ways,” he said. “She has written good books. She has the style. I have nothing against it. Even her early works such as War’s Unwomanly Face were supported by the Soviet government,” noted the President.
According to Alexander Lukashenko, it is important that the first Belarusian has been awarded a Nobel Prize in Literature after the USSR collapsed. “How you are going to handle this legacy is the most important thing now. If you are a citizen of Belarus, it is your land, your state whether you like it or not, but today you are a person that flies high. Let’s see how you use this image, this legacy for the benefit of your people,” said the Belarusian leader.
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