Svetlana Alexievich is the first Belarusian writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. In 2015, the Swedish Academy honored her “for her polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our time”. Over the years, Ms. Alexievich has gifted the literary world six works from her cycle “The Chronicle of the Big Utopia”, which have been translated into at least 19 languages.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the distinguished Belarusian writer in Vilnius. In a warm and heartfelt conversation, they discussed the plight of political prisoners in Belarus, highlighting the importance of advocacy for their release. They also exchanged thoughts on women’s leadership in Belarusian society and politics.
As Ms. Tsikhanouskaya and Ms. Alexievich discussed solidarity, they agreed that the key now is to find sources of inspiration, maintain unity, and keep faith in the future despite all hardships.
Ukraine was another focus of the conversation. They stressed that its victory is crucial for Belarus and explored ways Belarusians can support Ukrainians in their struggle.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya presented Svetlana Alexievich with the Cross of Revival, an award recognizing dedication to the interests of the Belarusian people and significant contributions to Belarusian culture.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “We often talk about politics, the economy, and international support. But we also need the strong voices of our cultural figures to keep us from losing ourselves in difficult times. Culture is a vital tool in our fight for independence and freedom”.
