Slavamіr Adamovіch: to court after birthday party
The scandalous poet turned 50 on March 8.
Euroradio has asked him about his work as a builder in the USA, life in Norway and the coming trial with a Minsk publisher.
Slavamir Adamovich became known in non-literary circles after his verse “Kill the President” (1995). He spent 10 months in notorious KGB prison for it. The poet sewed up his mouth in public at a meeting in 1997. He went to work as a builder in the USA in 2000 and has lived in Norway for 9 years – at first as a refugee and then as a citizen.
“We live in given circumstances. It turns out that we cannot avoid the circumstances – at least I can’t. Of course, it would be better to be known for my work, for the things that I do. Unfortunately, they remember the verse that was written in Russian. I became notorious due to the verse and epatage”, - says Slavamir Adamovich.
The work abroad makes the poet recall the things he learned in Soviet youth building groups.
Slavamir Adamovich: “The work was not connected with literature at all. I did everything I could do in the United States in 2000. I did physical labour if there were jobs. There were no jobs and it is rather difficult to find a job in Norway in comparison with the United States”.
What has Slavamir Adamovich been doing since he returned to Belarus from Norway last year?
Slavamir Adamovich: “I live my personal life. How? I live off the things I gained in Norway, the Kingdom of Norway”.
The poet tried to become a citizen of Norway when he lived there. But it was not easy…
Slavamir Adamovich: “I spent two years in a refugee camp waiting for the decision. They spent two years trying to decide whether to allow me to stay in Norway or not. I received the permit at the end of 2005 and had lived in Norway legally since then”.
In Norway
At a meeting of writers in Minsk, 2011
The poet is preparing for a trial on the day of his jubilee. He has found out that publisher Uladzimir Siuchykau included two of his verses in a book of love lyrics in 2005. He did not pay him any fee and did not even inform him about it.
Slavamir Adamovich: “I will lodge a complaint after my birthday party. I will send a written complaint to the creator of the book of verses “She and I” Uladzimir Siuchykau. He published two of my verses there. The fact that he did not even thank me makes me angry!..”
The book of verses “She and I”
Slavamir Adamovich learnt it at the recent book exhibition in Minsk. He approached Siuchykau’s table, started looking through books and noticed his name on the list of authors. He was indignant at the fact that the publisher did not even present the book to him.
Slavamir Adamovich: “Moreover, he suggested that I bought it for 25 thousand roubles! Then I went to some shops and noticed that it cost 18 thousands – it made me angry. This is wrong!”
If the case is sent to court, Slavamir Adamovcih will demand compensation from Uladzimir Siuchykau.
The scandal started because of these two verses
Slavamir Adamovich: “I will demand financial compensation – so that they would feel it. If the case is sent to court. My lawyers have explained that you can demand moral and financial compensation”.
Poet Slavamir Adamovich celebrated his 50th birthday on March 8. Euroradio wishes him inspiration and benefit!
In Finnish sauna
With goddaughter
