Belarusian poetess: I am not a 'people's enemy'

Rasia Baravikova, Valery Hakejeu, Alena Masla, Ales Navaryc and Andrej Fedarenka have chosen to withdraw from the official professional union.

In an interview with Radio Svaboda, Raisa Baravikova, poetess and the laureate of Janka Kupala State Award, explained her move by "disrespectful attitude towards the Belarusian language and literature by some people in the Union of Writers of Belarus." She also shared the stories of scandals that followed the publications in Maladosc (Youth) magazine, which she had previously edited, of works by Andrei Fedarenka, Leanid Daineka, Alena Brava. An anonymous letter had arrived at the Office of the President from someone allegedly in Casniki (Homel region) complaining that the state-sponsored magazine published "the works by people's enemies." The leadership of the pro-governmental writers' union would also slam Raisa Baravikova for publishing "an anti-Russian novel". She was often branded as "almost a nationalist". 

"Bealrus is our land, our Fatherland. Belarusian language is a state language. No one has the right to degrade those who write in this language," the poetess told Radio Svaboda.

Photo: svaboda.org