There is one thing I can not anderstand, in this country there are so many educated and interligent people, but it is still a dictatorship. Why?
Kazulin, the ex-candidate for the president post in 2006, the one who was sentenced to stay in jail for 5.5 years term, has just burried his wife. He was allowed to join his family only for 3 days and now despite the international and national calls to the "president" he has to return to jail. Is there any justice? Is there any court? Who are the judges? Photo by NN.BY photographer Julia Darashkevich.
Meanwhile, some terrible things happen in Belarus. Two wellknown people died last weekend. One is the wife of Alaksand Kazulin (http://kozylin.com/), Kazulin was one of the candidates in the presidential elections 2006. Now he is imprisoned and not allowed to say good bye to his wife... It's really sad.
KP journalist was found dead in the forest, it's not clear what happened there. Few weeks ago there was another journalist found dead of the main "independent" info agency Belapan. For me, it's a bit weird. And of course it's really sad...
A two-day congress of the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF), a major opposition party in Belarus, began at the culture palace of the Minsk Automobile Factory on December 8. - Naviny.by reported
It's an interesting even, because this congress will elect a new chairperson of this oppositional party. At the moment the two leading canditates Viacorka and Michalevic (on the photo) got almost equal results, 118 and 110 votes correspondingly. Both are less than 50% + 1 vote, therefore there will be one more voting round tomorrow. I just hope that this voting tomorrow will change something in the country to the better.
I've been watching Russian Star Factory where they have a belarusian singer this year again. Last one, who won the contest, was Dzima Kaldun (or Dima Koldun in Russian), then he went to Eurovision 2007 and got the 6th (?) place hoping that Belarus would be finally in the final for the next year. As we know now, Eurovistion 2008 will be with new rules. Therefore, Belarus is again in the one of two semifinals...
Here is his performance at Eurovision with Spanish intro:)
Well, before Kaldun, it was Nata Padolskaya, who wanted to sing for Belarus in the year 2004 I think (or 2003), she didn't make it and went to Star Factory (she was the first one from Belarus, as I remember now). Then in 2005 she performed finally at Eurovision, but representing Russia. I was then in Kyiv to see the consert, I would recomment to everyone to visit it! :) Returning to Nata, she got the unlucky 11th place and Russia had to be in the semifinal in 2006. But still I think she is really gifted girl:) here is her clip for the Eurovision:
So, speaking about these two, I've just read that they had a concert in Russia in October to support Edinaya Rossia, the Putin party. Kaldun says he doesn't care about the politics... It's sad, it's really sad, as I thing he should be responsible for his actions, same for Nata. But if they support Putin, as Belarusian citizens though, that's their choice.
In Belarus over the last week there was a big public resonnace over the meeting of the artists from the so called black list with Aleh Pralaskouski, who is the head of the ideological department (yeah, it exists!) of the President Administraion. There were told that the list will disappear if they will stay away from politics... This is the over side of the medal, you can be promoting politicians, but the right ones.
NRM, for example, quite often sings in Poland instead, especially at actions to support Belarus, like Solidar with Belarus:
Speaking about Eurovision 2008, some people say that Ruslan Alekhno will be representing Belarus, I would be happy actually:) He is also one the products of the Russian Show Business. He one one of the Russian Pop Idols (Narodnyj Artist). I love this performance of him on Slavianski Bazar:
And now I've just realised what made me think of posting this info. Dakota, or Marharyta Herasimovich, is one the participants of the current the 7th Star Factory and today she went to the final:) She write her own songs, including both lirycs and music. Good luck, girl! Some videos of her:
I ask myself how is it possible and I have no answer. When you are young freedom is one of the essential things you value. And then, when you foced to live within the limits set up by some (really looking for a nice word, but only bad ones come to my mind) officials, you feel like in prison. I really want young Belarusians and Belarusians in general to be able to go anywhere in the world, therefore I do hope that my state will abolish all stupid laws and rules which limit this freedom and will concentrate on the improvement of the Belarusian economy and start negociation to abolish visum in Europe for Belarusians. Uff, it sounds like a plan of action! I would be happy if they would listen to the citizens.
I am reading news about the situation in Georgia and I try to understand what is standing behind it. I have to say that I am not an expert, I just try to analyse and guess what is going on. There are two sides of the coin, there are too positions in this issue. Russia claims that Saakashvili wants to keep the power and makes clever steps in order to maintain it at the same time "provoking Russians" (3 Russian diplomats were sent out of Georgia yesterday as persona-non-grata). On the other site I can imagine that Russian special forces are interfering into the domestics politics of the neighboring country. What is definitely clear, people don't want and don't like violence. My question is will they remember about Saakashvili's violence with the demonstrators or rather the Russian troops in Abkhazia in early 1990s and now?
The author of one of my favorit book (Diplomacy) and a former U.S. secretary of state (from 1973 to 1977) met with Putin today.
Kissinger, who is also head of his own international consultancy, said President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had approved the idea, and called on the international community to treat Russia as an equal partner, which, he said, is what Putin is trying to attain.
So there you go:
Russia and the United States are forming a working group that will focus on the future of bilateral relations and will be co-chaired by a former Russian premier and an ex-U.S. secretary of state.
Despite all negative news I read everyday I always find some which are rather inspiring. These days there were two:) First, EC finally got an answer from our governement (EC sent its request in 2005), EC is allowed to open office and official representation in Belarus! That's cool, but as my friend said, let's see how long it will take. Anyway, it's a progress!
Next a chief assistent of the state secretary of the USA David Kramer (I am not sure about the spelling) visited Belarus and even met with our officials. It's funny that he was asked to meet with Piatkevich, who is very strong woman and our president advicer. Actually, I am not 100% sure that it's a good sign, but at least some changes!
Therefore, let's keep being optimistic and enjoy the spring weather;)
Kissinger, who is also head of his own international consultancy, said President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had approved the idea, and called on the international community to treat Russia as an equal partner, which, he said, is what Putin is trying to attain.
