At today’s press-conference prominent Belarusian women declared their support of the People’s March “For Better Life!” – the national artist of Belarus Zinaida Bondarenko, laureate of the state USSR award, cameraman Tatiana Loginova, 13th Supreme Soviet deputy, professor of economy Ludmila Gryaznova, wife of the missing Belarusian businessman and public figure Anatoly Krasovsky, professor of pedagogy Irina Krasovskaya, student and ZUBR movement’s activist Irina Tolstik. The ladies shared their discontent over the policy of the Belarusian authorities and called on the Belarusian nation to engage in the spring protest action. “We are opposed to impoverishment and fall in the standard of living. Many times have we tried to knock on the government’s door but always to no avail. We no longer have access to the parliamentary tribune, for they kicked us out of there. We enjoy no access to radio, TV and press, which are all under state’s control. The regime only recognizes power and power we are altogether. And so, we call upon our intelligentsia, thinking and suffering people to take to the streets of Minsk on March 12 and stand for ourselves, our better life and finally put an end to this weirdness, turmoil, this constant humiliation and experiment over the Belarusians, which has been lasting for nine years now. Let’s stop dying out, stop weeping in the kitchens, stop getting poor but rather stand on our feet and go fight for our future. We are worthy of it. We are Belarusians. We are the Europeans. And so we want to live in a European country,” – declared deputy of the Supreme Soviet, professor of economy Ludmila Gryaznova.
Well-known Belarusian cameraman Tatiana Loginova said that she doesn’t feel like politics, but life itself makes her do that. “In essence, art is art, life is life and politics is politics. Unfortunately, in our country everything is interrelated. The economic situation is so disastrous and so suffocating that there occur things which simply cannot take place in a normal country.” Laureate of the USSR state award cited an example of “Belarusfilm” cinema studio, where she worked for over 30 years:
- I remember wonderful time when our studio produced up to 26 movies a year. Today we come up with no more than two films each year. However, even to these two films we can’t attract best professionals, for their salaries are too low and are periodically delayed. Professionals leave for other spheres, independent studios (although there are no really independent studios in Belarus, in my view), many cameraman head for Moscow. I worked for the cinematographer for over 30 years and receive 170thsd rubles a month, which is under $100.
Spouse of the missing Belarusian businessman Anatoly Krasovsky Irina determined to support the People’s March, for “not a single Belarusian citizen can feel fully at ease and comfortably in a country, where people go missing”.
--- I support People’s March “For Better Life!”, for I want to live in a civilized, quiet country, so that my children, grandchildren, friends and relatives could be in safety here. It is impossible to live in a country, where people go missing without a trace, while the state doesn’t bother to investigate into these crimes. No mother, wife or daughter can know for sure that something of the kind doesn’t happen one day to their loved ones. So I tell our women to join the March in order to protect ourselves, our friends and relatives. Only then will we build independent Belarus and will fight for it together. I will join People’s March myself on March 12 to stand for my free Belarus.
A student, activist of the ZUBR movement Irina Tolstik represented Belarusian students at the press-conference and described the problems they face. “Nobody really knows what for we are studying. Where can young specialists be employed? What money will they get?” – the young woman posed rhetoric questions to the audience. According to her, the People’s March “For Better Life!” is “our chance to change the situation”. “We, students, will join that March. I guess, many of us will follow suit,” – deems Irina Tolstik.
Belarusian national artist Zinaida Bondarenko also called on Belarusians to get together and protect their right for better life at the March:
-- Many stories and anecdotes have been dedicated to the tolerance of Belarusians. In the 21st century in the very center of Europe there live beautiful, industrious people, worthy of rich, decent life, while the regime drove them into an abyss and made miserable. Belarusians, peaceful by nature, turned out in international isolation owing to the thoughtless state policy. The whole world marvels at our friendly relations with almost only Iraq. Shame on us! Official mass media and statesmen are doing their best to hide truth from us, helping the authorities to annihilate our national culture, language, history and independence, while we still endure it, keep silent and hope for something better. We’ve long had this good tradition: when someone has problems, others join together in helping him out. Now it is time to stand together, for nobody will improve our lives for us”.
At the end Ludmila Gryaznova once again addressed all Belarusian females with the following call:
“Don’t wait to get your men into the streets, so that they could change life for you!”.
Dear Colleagues. Remember, please, you are expected to refer to the Charter`97 Press Center when using the site materials. News export , javascript-informer
, javascript-informer
