We consider ourselves independent artists
15:55, — Politics
“Radio Svaboda” comments on nomination of laureates of the Charter’97 National Human Rights Award in 2007.
Ivona Matsukevich, the chairperson of the parish committee of St. Joseph’s parish in Minsk, has been awarded in the category “For defense of human rights and Christian values”. The creative association “Pahonya” is awarded in the category “For defense of human rights and freedom of artistic creativity”. The winner in the category “For personal courage in human rights protection” is a human rights activist and wife of a political prisoner, Tastyana Klimava-Leanovich.
Zmitser Bandarenka: “There could be saints among laureates of the award”
The Charter’97 coordinator Zmitser Bandarenka does not conceal that subjective opinions played their role while choosing winners:
“In fact, there were many events. We have political prisoners, and their families are suffering. But we cannot nominate the same personalities every year, that’s what explains our choice. And defense of St. Joseph’s church could be called one of the most important events of the year in the sphere of human rights. As for Ivona, I cannot exclude that some day she will be called a saint. She is performing her duty every day.
As for the creative association “Pahonya”, there are different processes in the sphere of art, but it looks like our artists Alyaksei Marachkin, Yauhen Shunejka, Alyaksandr Rodzin, and many others, are very self-consistent. They do not have a choice to come to somebody and stoop or not. The candidature of Mrs. Klimava is closely connected with the biography of her husband. Klimau has been given more prison terms than others, and he is imprisoned now. And we all are paying court to Tatsyana Klimava’s courage, we should pay tribute to her,” Zmitser Bandarenka said to Radio Svaboda.
Ivona Matsukevich: “What belongs to God, will belong to Him”
Every day for 2,5 years Ivona Matsukevich goes to St. Joseph’s church after the evening service. Her prayer is directed to return of the building to Catholics:
“I am just a normal person who does not want our state and nation to vanish. This nation does not have future in alcoholism, drug addition. Renewal of Christian traditions could help us: when a person has God in his soul, he or she will be a human. And it could happen only when churches would exist. One of these church buildings is used as an archive for 143 years already. I ask God his grace for it to be returned for God’s glorification, for at least several persons to meet God through this building. And that’s all I do, I do not want anything else or other thoughts. I just want to say: God, if it belongs to you, let it be Yours,” Ivona Matsukevich told to Radio Svaboda.
Alyaksei Marachkin: “Pahonya is Nonconformists’ Association”
Members of the “Pahonya” creative association, awarded by the Charter’97 press-center, remain faithful to the principles of liberty and freedom of artistic creativity. This position of the artists is expressed by the head of the creative association, a well-known artist Alyaksei Marachkin:
“I am very thankful to those people who have nominated us. It should be noted that since 1990 we are working in the sphere of visual arts, and our main orienting point is the Belarusian legacy, defense of freedom of artistic creativity and our non-conformism. We believe we are independent artists who are not ruled by the regime, and especially in present. As to be sincere, it is normal that we have been noticed at last. It’s a pity that other public organizations and political parties that cooperate with “Pahonya” haven’t rewarded our activities in any way,” the artist said.
Tatsyana Leanovich: “Award belongs to all our family”
Tastyana Leanovich is a well-known lawyer, a human rights activist and the wife of the political prisoner Andrei Klimau. She married a successful businessman, a millionaire, a deputy of the parliament, and she has turned into a wife of the political prisoner. A deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the 13th convocation, during Lukashenka’s rule Andrei Klimau has been sentenced to imprisonment three times. . All through these years Tatsyana have been doing her best for his release, and raised children alone. Andrei Klimau was awarded the prize in 2005:
“Yesterday friends called me and informed about this enjoyable news. And I immediately checked on the internet certainly, to find whether it is true. Undoubtedly, I was profoundly moved. Yes, I was touched indeed, and simply overwhelmed with emotions. This award belongs to all our family without doubt. I want to share it with Andrei’s mother, who has done a lot for her son’s rights’ protection, and with children who had been greatly suffering all this time,” Tatsyana told to Radio Svaboda.
Award-giving ceremony to be held by Charter’97 before the end of 2007
The National Human Rights Award was established in 1998. In previous years among the prize-winners were defenders of the tent camp on October Square in March 2006, political prisoners Alyaksnadr Kazulin, Zmitser Dashkevich, Artur Finkevich, Paval Sevyarynets, Mikalay Statkevich, Mikola Autukhovich, an activist of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union Alena Zakhodzhaya, Christians who participated in the hunger strike for return of New Life church building, a human rights activist Valery Shchukin, wives of the abducted opposition leaders and a journalist, Iryna Krasouskaya, Svyatlana Zavadskaya, Zinaida Hanchar; a People’s Artist Zinaida Bandarenka, an opposition activist Uladzimir Pleschanka, the Kurapaty defenders, rock bands “N.R.M.” and “Novae Neba”, a film director Viktar Dashuk, journalists Paval Mazhejka, Mikola Markevich, Viktar Ivashkevich, Lubou Luniova, Yuras` Karmanau, Maryna Koktysh, Henadz Barbarych and other prominent public and cultural figures, politicians and journalists.
