Festival in Lutsk: Belarusians having right to freedom (Photo) :: Charter'97 :: News

Around five thousand people participated in the rock festival ”Right to Be Free” organized by Belarusians in the Ukrainian town Lutsk 22 September. The festival was accompanied by hardships: buses with the festival guests were detained at the exit from Belarus by the special regiment, thus the people were made to hitchhike or travel by electric train. It took the musicians hours to pass the customs and boarder guard control. But the festival was held and struck its target.

9 groups performed at the festival. Belarus was represented both by the stars and the younger generation of musicians: Krama ULIS, Neuro Dubel, Indiga, В: N:, Tav. Mauzer, " Stsyana", Znich.
Kiev group “Tin Sontsya” also participated in the concert and sang several songs in Belarusian.

Festival ”Right to Be Free” was decided to be held in Ukraine as the same event is impossible to be held in Belarus today because some of the participating rock groups are prohibited in Belarus. In the Ukraine it is also easier to hold the festival because Belarusians do not need any entry visa to the country.

Organizing efforts were taken by the Belarusian musical label StudFarmat and youth initiative “European Radio for Belarus”. The organizers are satisfied with the festival.

“We gained everything that we had wished. The festival was welcomed both by Belarusians and by Ukrainians. The audience came up to the organizers with the words of gratitude. The scene, sound, light, everything was up to the mark. The only weak point was problems on the Belarusian border. But despite the militia actions a lot of Belarusians managed to come to the festival. The aims were completely reached. We wanted to attract attention to the complicated situation in our country. The event was supported by the Ukrainian authorities. The deputy head of the Valinsky region Igar Guz spoke in support for Belarusians from the stage. He declared that the Ukrainian people will always second changes in Belarus», one of the festival organizers Alyaksei Lukashevich reported to the Charter’97 press center.

According to Alyaksei Lukashevich, the festival atmosphere was free as it had been supposed by the Belarusians:”The atmosphere was friendly .The situation in Belarus and Ukrainian –Belarusian friendship were continuously dwelt upon by the speakers and performer. There were lots of the Belarusian flags. Slogan”Long Live Belarus!” was head everywhere. The representatives of the Belarusian diaspora in Ukraine announced “Free Ukraine and Free Belarus Together!”.

Festival ” Right to Be Free” is also scheduled for the coming year.” We have understood the people need the festival”, Alyaksei Lukashevich said.

Photos by Arseniy Pahomau