19 March 2024, Tuesday, 14:49
Support
the website
Sim Sim,
Charter 97!
Categories

Vitaly Hurkou: Above all is to conquer fear

20
Vitaly Hurkou: Above all is to conquer fear

On March 27 the tenfold Muay Thai world champion Vitaly Hurkou is 30 years old.

Vitaly Hurkou - honored master of sports of the Republic of Belarus - is the first Belarusian sportsman presented Vikrar Ivashkevich's National Prize for Human Rights. The award was instituted by the initiative of Charter-97 in 1998. Within 17 years hundreds of brave Belarusians - activists, politicians, civil right activists, journalists, musicians, painters- fighting for the best future of Belarus have been awarded.

Vitaly Hurkou is awarded in the Courage in Art category. Today he is a Belarusian idol not only for his sporting achievements. Hurkou is speaking out for freedom of Belarus, his hero is Kastuś Kalinoŭski, his flag is of white-red-white colors, and his native language is Belarusian. He has recently joined a new project BRUTTO of Siarhei Mikhalok and sang a song with prophetic name "We will win!" (Наша возьме!).

Due to sports competitions Vitaly was unable to attend the National Prize ceremony, but the day before he had visited the office of charter97.org in Warsaw, where Natallia Radzina, the editor-in-chief, had presented him the Charter-97 award. Belarusians in Warsaw came to congratulate him.

Natallia Radzina, the editor-in-chief, presents Vitaly Hurkou the award in the Courage in Art category

- I did not expect to stay in one row with people who deal with policy and who risk their lives and freedom. I am far from politics, though it is always around, Vitaly Hurkou said in his interview to charter97.org.

- Especially today, when the war in Ukraine is waging, there is a great threat to the independence of Belarus.

- Yes. When I see what is going on in Ukraine I'm afraid of such scenario in Belarus.

- Many people, including athletes, prefer to ignore the situation and live as if they are on another planet.

- Then they will realize they have been wearing rose-tinted glasses. There are some people who will not start thinking unless something is wrong. As it happens with a disease: unless it touches you, you don't care. When it happens to you, your friend, your family, then it becomes painful.

I understand now our official flag is different and athletes raise it at international competitions. But I have had a white-red-white flag in my heart since school. I know its history, I was taught that way and it appeals to me. I am very sorry that today our historical flag is considered to be an opposition and banned symbol. One can be arrested because of it, it is taken away when you bring it with you on hockey game. But it was our national flag from 1991 to 1995. Let us respect it.

When I was boxing in Milan for the title of the world champion, a huge white-red-white flag was unfurled. So my compatriots supported me. Then I met with one of the initiators of this action. It was an ordinary guy who studied at a university in Warsaw, liked sports and had nothing to do with politics.

- Why do you care? You are the tenfold world champion, the star, and successful young man with a great career. In Belarus it's risky to be a real patriot.

- What can sport success and achievements mean when such things happen in the world when people die for their independence, their families, and their country? All this success is nothing compared to the fact that someone loses a friend, and is ready to sacrifice his life for his home, parents, and country.

I believe those people conquering their fear of being punished and killed and defending their ideals and homeland have much more strength and power.

- It seems like faith is much more important than power.

- "According to your faith be it done to you", the Bible says. When you do something and do not believe in it, what can a result be? The faith in heart can make life and work much easier.

- "Zhyve Belarus! ("Long live Belarus!")

- Long live forever! (Жыве вечна!)

Write your comment 20

Follow Charter97.org social media accounts