During her visit to Warsaw, the Belarusian leader presented the award “For Free Thought” in honor of Vasil Bykau, established by Aliaksandr Milinkevich in 2008. The award is given to individuals whose creative work supports freedom of speech and thought. Its previous recipients have included Liavon Volski, Ales Pushkin, Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu, Ryhor Baradulin, Zmitser Dashkevich, and Pavel Sevyarynets. This year, the award went to NAVIBAND.
In her congratulatory speech, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya emphasized that people are the true treasure of Belarus:
“Everyone has their own path to embracing Belarusian identity, and that’s perfectly fine. But what’s important is that we all share the same goal. Now, when the national culture in Belarus is being persecuted and eradicated to appease the ‘Russian world’, it is more crucial than ever to protect and preserve what is ours – our culture and traditions.
The award “For Free Thought” in Vasil Bykau’s honor is one of these traditions. The people are our greatest national treasure, they give us hope. Even in the most difficult historical circumstances, our ancestors didn’t despair but continued to do what they had to do. In the same spirit, I am confident that we will reclaim and revive our country.
It is an honor for me to present this beautiful statuette to Artsiom and Kseniya – musicians who have helped me discover my own Belarusian identity. You are a true example of love, creative collaboration, and devotion to your homeland. You are a source of inspiration for many Belarusians, both in the country and in exile. Thank you!”
