News articles
News Article: Vasyl Bykau Remains
Belarusian National
" 'In connection with the apparent
tendentious reports of some Russian media, in particular the newspaper
Izvestia, on the occasion of my coming to Prague, let me say it in open
that I neither asked the Czech government or president Vatslav Havel to
give me political asylum nor even intended to do so.' "
" 'My wife and I simply requested to let us live for a more or less
extended period of time in the Czech Republic, which is necessary for
my literature work and medical treatment as the one, suffering from the
chronic lungs' problems. I received this right in December 2002 not without
president Havel's assistance. Any attempts to make a political action
out of this are provocative and worthy of condemnation. 'Vasyl Bykau is
a citizen of the Republic of Belarus,' - these words of the Belarusian
national writer have been circulated today by the Belarusian center in
Prague."
Source: Charter 97, NEWS; 16:59, 27/12/2002
News Article: Belarusian Writer
Finds Refuge in Czech Republic
"Vasil Bykau, a 78-year-old Belarusian
dissident writer, has been granted permanent residence in the Czech Republic,
Czech news agency CTK reported on 20 December [2002]. Bykau has lived
in Finnish and German exile since 1998. 'We are very glad that such a
significant personality, persecuted by the current Belarusian regime,
has found refuge in the Czech Republic,' said Tomas Pojar of Czech NGO
People in Need. 'We believe this is an important symbol of the Czech Republic's
relation toward the current Belarusian regime.' "
"Official relations between Prague and Minsk deteriorated after Czech
authorities denied a visa to Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka,
barring him from attending the NATO summit in Prague on 21-22 November
(see "RFE/RL Newsline" 12, 13, 14, and 15 November 2002). AM"
Source: RFE/RL Newsline, CEE, 23/12/2002
News Article: Vasil Bykau Won't
Return to Belarus
"The Belarusian PEN-Center has done
everything possible that Vasil Bykau (Bykov) can stay in Germany, Karlos
Sherman, an honorable vice-president of the Belarusian PEN-Center, said
to BelaPAN. Recently a German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau informed
that on April 15 [2002], Vasil Bykau will return to his native land as
the term of his German visa expires. Bykau himself, commenting on this
statement, said that the reporter has somewhat 'simplified' his problem.
'I would certainly like to return, but not now and not under present conditions,
-- the writer said. -- Naturally I think about what I should do in the
future. Some things depend not only on me... There are several possibilities
that will become known in the spring, when I make a final decision. There
are some organizations that support me, including the International Parliament
of Writers and some other organizations. I think I would not have to return
on April 15'."
"In a phone conversation with the BelaPAN correspondent, Karlos Sherman
expressed hope that all problems of the continued stay of Vasil Bykau
in Germany would be successfully solved. As stated by him, the leadership
of the PEN-Center has not even considered the return of the writer to
Belarus. 'He feels better there, and he can write peacefully there. On
the other hand, Vasil Bykau is completely informed about events in Belarus,
as he gets Belarusian newspapers, listens to the radio, and reads news
on the Internet', -- Karlos Sherman said."
Let us remind the readers that Vasil Bykau left Belarus aat the end of
1997."
Source: Charter 97, NEWS; February
14, 2002
News Article: Writers of Belarus
Stand for Vasil Bykau
"The Union of Belarusian Writers
addressed the Belarusian government, urging it to cease the shameful defamation
campaign, unleashed by the state media against the prominent national
writer, World War II veteran Vasil' Bykau (Bykov)."
" 'The country hasn't seen such outrageous and groundless violence
since the 1930's, when hundreds of Belarusian writers, scholars, and politicians
were exterminated. At present, the Belarusian television, having borrowed
Stalin's and Beria's methods, libels the war veteran Vasil Bykau as a
'literature turncoat'. Belarusian authorities, whose silent approval helps
discrediting the name of Vasil Bykau, have neither moral nor constitutional
right to produce an impression as if the destiny of the national writer
is no state business,' - reads the document."
"The text was signed by numerous outstanding writers and poets -
Rygor Borodylin, Gennady Buravkin, Karlos Sherman, and others."
Source: Charter 97, NEWS; April 10,
2001
News Article: Popular Belarusian
Novelist Vasil Bykov at Home in Frankfort
"76-year old writer says that he's
been given asylum there. In January this year [2001] Bykau (Bykov) was
invited to Frankfurt am Main by the local authorities and organizers of
the international book fair. After his departure from Belarus, Bykov tarried
for some time in Finland. In Germany, which the famous writer regularly
visited during the past 20 years, Vasil Bykov plans to stay for at least
one year and compose an autobiography."
Source: Charter 97, NEWS; updated on
March 05, 2001
News Article: Emigre writer Bykau:
"Belarus Decaying Morally and Economically, Despotism Progressing,
Hope Running Out"
" 'Belarus is decaying morally and
economically. Despotism is progressing. Hope is running out,' the prominent
Belarusian writer Vasil Bykau (Bykov), a known antagonist of the Lukashenko
regime, has told the Mensk-based newspaper Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta."
" 'The opposition is always in the minority, especially in Belarus,'
Mr. Bykau said. 'They can change nothing, they can only initiate changes.
The rest is up to the people. It is both the strength and weakness of
the opposition, as well as of the people.' "
"Mr. Bykau said his tranquil life in Germany was getting him closer
to his 'ultimate goal - freedom and independence.' 'The question is whether
one can feel free and independent as an individual while society on the
whole lacks freedom and independence,' he wondered."
"Mr. Bykau stressed that he had always considered Belarus his home.
'Unfortunately, my home is not a hospitable one. I guess it is destined
to be that way,' he added."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 19; Friday, January
5, 2001; 1:05 p.m.
News Article: World-Famous Belarusian
Writer Vasil' Bykau Gave His Evaluation to the Elections in Belarus in
a Telephone Conversation with Our Correspondent
" 'In such conditions one cannot
talk of any elections. Only ill-minded people can take seriously such
an event, like these Belarusian Parliamentary elections, since all their
system made the way so that not to let people make their choice, so that
only the regime supporters would be elected to the Parliament.' "
"Also Mr. Bykau (Bykov) wished that readers of our paper would read
more independent papers, and listen to independent radio stations because
one cannot become more intelligent in this country without doing that.
World-famous Belarusian writer Vasil Bykov gave his evaluation to the
elections in Belarus in a telephone talk with our correspondent. 'In such
conditions one cannot talk of any elections. Only ill-minded people can
take seriously such an event, like these Belarusian Parliamentary elections,
since all their system is made that way so that people do not have a choice;
so that only the regime supporters would be elected to the Parliament.'
"
Source: BDG (Belarussian Business Newspaper),
[16-10-2000,13:47]
News Article: Head of the Belarusian
Writers' Union Indignant at Treatment Received by Vasil Bykau in Belarus
" 'Society must have respect for
every person's opinion, that is why I feel indignation at the barbarous
tone of the recent statements by the state media,' commented Olga Ipatova,
acting chairperson of the Belarusian Writers' Union, on the treatment
that writer Vasil Bykov has been getting in Belarus."
"'The writer has got tired of hearing stupid things about himself,'
Karlos Sherman, vice president of the Belarusian Pen-Center, said while
commenting on Mr. Bykov's departure for Germany, where the writer reportedly
plans to stay for at least one year. Mr. Bykov left Belarus on February
3 [2000] at the invitation of the German Pen-Center."
"Mr. Bykov lived and worked in Finland in the past two years. Mr.
Sherman said that he did not know how long the writer would stay in Germany."
. . . .
"According to Ms. Ipatova, for reasons beyond the writer's control,
his comments on language, cultural, and other non-political matters and
events have been wrongly interpreted as politically motivated. However,
said Ms. Ipatova, every person has the right to form and voice an opinion
about one matter or another."
"Ms. Ipatova expressed concern about a 'catastrophic decline of culture
and relations between people in our society'. In her opinion, the intelligentsia
must make a maximum effort to teach civilized relations and tolerance
to society and to the government."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 47; Thursday,
February 10, 2000; 7:10 p.m.
News Article: Vasil Bykau (Bykov)
to Live in Germany for at Least One Year
"Vasil Bykau, Belarus' most famous
writer, has left Belarus for Germany where he will live for at least one
year, the Russian media reported. Mr. Bykau was invited to Germany by
the country's Pen-Center."
"Mr. Bykau lived and worked in Finland for the last two years. Earlier,
the Russian newspaper Izvestiya reported that Belarusian State Television
and other state media selected Mr. Bykau, a critic of the current Belarusian
regime, as a target of a harassment campaign." ....
Source: BelaPAN, No.25; Sunday, February
6, 2000; 3:40 p.m.
News Article: Is Vasil' Bykau being
harassed in Minsk?
"VIENNA, 1 February 2000 -- The
following was released by Freimut Duve, OSCE Representative on Freedom
of the Media, during a news conference in Vienna. The Representative discussed
three cases of harassment of media freedom in Russia and Belarus."
3. Is Vasil' Bykov being harassed in Minsk?"
"On 28 January 2000, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media,
Freimut Duve, wrote to Ural Latypov, Belarus Foreign Minister, raising
his concern with the alleged campaign of harassment initiated against
the famous Belarus writer, Vasil' Bykov, who had recently returned to
Minsk. Duve informed the Minister that he learned from the Moscow daily
Izvestia of this campaign. Duve asked Minister Latypov a number of questions:"
o Was the campaign against Bykau (Bykov) led by Vladimir Sevryk, who was
described by Izvestia and many knowledgeable Russian journalists as a
former leading Soviet hard-line communist journalist?
o Had Mr. Sevryk attacked Vasil' Bykov for almost 35 years?
o Was it true that Belarus State Television had selected Bykov as a target
of a campaign of harassment and was it also true that Vasil' Bykov was
a leading proponent of Glasnost in the late 80s and Vladimir Sevryk tried
to suppress this policy?
o Izvestia informed its readers that currently Mr. Sevryk is in the employment
of the Belarus government. Is this really correct?
"Duve assumed that Belarus government officials remembered that it
was because of Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of openness, among other things,
that Belarus became a member of the OSCE."
"Duve asked Minister Latypov to look into this case and, hopefully,
counter the allegations made by Bykov in his interview with Izvestia on
26 January 2000, where Bykov noted that 'Today in Belarus we have favourable
conditions for the return of the ideology that dominated during the Soviet
times.' "
"Note: Vasil' Bykov is one of the best-known authors in Belarus.
Born in 1924, he started writing in 1960, publishing classics such as
The Alps Ballad, The Dead Feel No Pain, and Sotnikov. A highly respected
writer during the Soviet times, though often criticized, he was awarded
the Soviet Union's top literary prizes and made a Hero of Socialist Labour.
In 1980, he was named the Peoples Writer of Belorussia. Last year, Bykov
received Russia's top independent literary prize, Triumph."
Source: Charter 97, NEWS; updated on
03.02.2000 at 17.30
News Article: Writer Vasil Bykov
Criticizes the Belarusian Authorities
"The Belarusian regime pursues a
revanchist policy and its goal is to return to the Communist past, said
Vasil Bykov, a prominent Belarusian writer, in an interview given to Radio
Liberty."
"Belarus, 'as a member state and founder of the United Nations, has
the right to sovereign existence, but what Lukashenko and his regime do
at present is aimed at the complete elimination of the sovereignty,' Mr.
Bykov said."
"The writer believes that the Belarusian regime has been destroying
national culture, literature and the Belarusian language under the cover
of integration with Russia. He said that Belarusian culture is controlled
by 'Soviet colonels with a communist mentality'."
"However, Mr. Bykov said that integration between Belarus and Russia
has not actually begun. 'Belarus and Russia are absolutely different worlds,
Belarus has an entirely socialist economy,' the writer said."
"Asked why the Belarusian people are silent about the authorities'
abuses, Mr. Bykov cited the former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, 'People
are a clean sheet of paper on which one can write any hieroglyph'."
"The writer said that Mr. Lukashenko is popular among common people
because he is able to take a furious effort to obtain everything the country
needs from Russia."
"Mr. Bykov has returned to Minsk after staying in Finland for two
years. He said that he would leave Belarus if he had the opportunity to
lead an 'acceptable and tolerable' life somewhere else. 'I cannot write
in Minsk. I have a cold apartment and with my ailing lungs I will turn
up my toes very soon,' Mr. Bykov said."
"Commenting on the Belarusian authorities' indifference to his life
and achievements, Mr. Bykov said, 'there is a group of writers who pay
lip service to Lukashenko and the regime. This is enough for him and he
does not care about anything else'. Mr. Bykov gave the interview shortly
after receiving Russia's Triumph prize for his literary achievements."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 54; Monday, January
17, 2000; 7:30 p.m.
News Article: Famous Belarusian
Novelist Vasil Bykov Called Combat Actions in Chechnya "Medieval."
Famous Belarusian novelist Vasil Bykov
[Bykau] called combat actions in Chechnya "medieval." He said:
"Russia will soon feel ashamed for what it has done to Chechnya."
He made these comments on January 9, [2000] during the ceremony where
he was awarded a Russian art prize 'Triumph'.
The award ceremony was held solemnly in attendance of Russian Orthodox
Patriarch Alexy II, and Russian President Boris Yeltsin. The contest director
Zoya Boguslavskaya noted that the award reflects the elements of democracy,
high morals, and responsibility -- the features that will be defining
the arts in the new century.
Commenting the ceremony itself, the writer noted: "Fortunately, Russia
hasn't lost all of its democratic achievements of the perestroika period.
This gives certain hope. But the perspectives are quite bleak anyway,
as shown by the war campaign in Chechnya. The essence of Russian democracy
is still too different from the internationally recognized standards.
So, I don't believe in any positive changes in the near future."
Compiled from: Belarusian Association
of Journalists, News, 10 January 2000, and Charter 97, NEWS; updated on
10.01.2000 at 17.40
News Article: Vasil Bykov Calls
the Belarusian-Russian Treaty "the Crime of the Century"
"In his interview to Radio Freedom
[i.e., Radio Liberty] Vasil Bykov, famous Belarusian writer, called signing
of the union treaty the 'crime of the century.' "
"According to Mr. Bykov, the treaty means genocide for the Belarusian
nation and the end of its history. 'Belarusians failed to use their historic
chance in the 20th century' - he concluded."
Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists
News Bulletin, 9 December 1999
News Article: Russian Literary
Prize Awarded to Vasil Bykov of Belarus
"Russia's most prestigious literary
prize, Triumph, was awarded to Belarusian writer Vasil Bykov on December
8. A statuette, a special badge, and $50,000 are supposed to be handed
to Mr. Bykov in a month as well as to the other four winners."
"According to prize coordinator Irina Boguslavskaya, Triumph is more
than just a literary award. 'If a writer is being mistreated, we are there,'
said Ms. Boguslavskaya."
"For more than a year now Mr. Bykov has been staying in Helsinki
at the invitation of the Finnish PEN Center. The apartment that he occupies
was reportedly allotted to the Pen Center by the Helsinki government on
condition that it is made available to Belarusian writers until Aleksandr
Lukashenko's rule comes to an end in Belarus."
Sources: BelaPAN, No. 38; Thursday,
December 9, 1999; 5:40 p.m. and Charter 97
News Article: Writer Vasil' Bykau
Visits Mensk
"Famous Belarusian writer Vasil
Bykov [Vasil' Bykau] arrived in Minsk on July 15 [1999]. Mr. Bykov had
been staying in Finland for over a year at the invitation of the local
Pen-Center. The visit is not connected with the political situation in
the country and the expiration of President Aleksandr Lukashenko's five-year
term in office, Mr. Bykov's wife told BelaPAN."
"According to her, the writer just wants to see his family, friends,
and colleagues and to attend to some private matters."
"Mr. Bykov plans to stay in Minsk 8 to 10 days. He will then return
to Finland."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 65; Friday, July
16, 1999; 9:40 p.m.
News Article: Belarusian Intellectuals
Mark Vasil Bykov's Birthday
" 'Vasil Bykov has become a symbol
of the struggle for our independence, our language, and our culture,'
poet Sergei Zakonnikov, editor-in-chief of the journal Polymya, said at
a ceremony held at the Writers' House in Minsk on June 23. The ceremony
was organized to mark Mr. Bykov's 75th birthday."
"Mr. Zakonnikov reminded those present that the famous Belarusian
writer was spending a second year in Finland, where he had been invited
by the Finnish PEN-center. He expressed assurance that Mr. Bykov will
return to Belarus sooner of later. Polymya is expected to publish new
stories by Bykov in its 5th edition, Mr. Zakonnikov said."
" 'All of us are to blame for the fact that Bykov is not with us
because we let uneducated people lacking culture to treat our sacred people
in such a way,' said poet Gennady Buravkin. 'Those who can tear a national
flag to pieces, for whom Belarus' territory is not enough, who cannot
express themselves in the mother tongue do not need Bykov's birthday as
they did not need Yanka Bryl's birthday,' Mr. Buravkin said."
" 'Belarus has to wait for a long time for a genius like Bykov, who
is an absolutely national phenomenon. The epoch we live in has the full
right to be called the epoch of Bykov and the Belarusians the nation of
Skaryna, Kalinovsky, and Bykov,' said Mikhail Tychina, a literary critic
who had studied Bykov's works. Mr. Tychina stressed that no one in Belarus
has as much inner freedom as Bykov. 'As long as most of the nation represented
by a fooled people accustomed to hard drinking, destroyed and crippled
by the regime, do not respect spiritual values, the nation will not be
able to consolidate and turn into a monolith,' Mr. Tychina said."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 105; Thursday,
June 24, 1999; 3:50 p.m.
News Article: Belarusian Language
Society Sends Best Wishes to Vasil Bykov on His Birthday
"The Francisak Skaryna Belarusian
Language Society (BLS) has sent its best wishes to writer Vasil Bykov,
who turns 75 on June 19. Mr. Bykov has been living and working in Helsinki
for two years. He went there at the invitation of the Finnish PEN Center."
" 'Your courageous civil position have assured millions of compatriots
of a happy future and a victory of the good, justice, and wisdom,' says
the message."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 83; Friday, June
18, 1999; 7:50 p.m.
News Article: Belarusian Language
Society Sends a Letter of Greetings to Writer Bykov
"The Francisak Skaryna Belarusian
Language Society (BLS) has sent a letter of greetings to prominent Belarusian
writer Vasil Bykov, who now lives in Finland."
"According to the BLS, the latest developments in Belarus brought
into the Society more people worried about the future of the country.
With particular satisfaction, the authors of the letter note a keen interest
in the BLS on the part of young patriots."
"'Your creative work helps today's Belarusians get rid of illusions
about Slavic `brotherhood' and the perpetual guardianship of the neighbor,
and awakes the hearts of the outsiders,' reads the letter."
"The BLS wishes Mr. Bykov good health, inspiration, and new creative
successes, and expresses hope that the writer will celebrate the beginning
of the new century in his homeland together with his nation."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 22; Thursday,
May 6, 1999 6:00 p.m.
News Article: Liberal Democratic
Party of Belarus (LDPB) to Pay Tribute to Vasil Bykov
"All district organizations of the
Belarusian Liberal-Democratic Youth Union (BLDYU) will soon buy at least
one collection of works by Vasil Bykov, Belarus' well- known writer. Money
for the books has been made available by the Liberal Democratic Party
of Belarus (LDPB) specially on the occasion of the writer's 75th birthday,
June 19."
"As LDPB leader Sergei Gaidukevich told BelaPAN, the campaign is
a tribute to the great Belarusian writer. He pointed out that every young
Liberal Democrat should be familiar with their famous fellow countryman's
works."
"The BLDYU has about 3,000 members and is one of the largest youth
organizations in Belarus, according to Mr. Gaidukevich."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 90; Monday, June
21, 1999; 5:50 p.m.
News Article: Vasil Bykau (Bykov)
Awarded Russia's Order of Friendship
"Russian President Boris Yeltsin
has awarded an Order of Friendship to the well-known Belarusian writer
Vasil Bykau (Bykov) for Mr Bykov's great contribution to the development
of contemporary literature."
"The order was handed to Mr Bykov by Valery Loshchinin, Russia's
ambassador to Belarus, at the Russian Embassy in Minsk on November 13
[1997]. The ceremony was also attended by Belarusian Foreign Minister
Ivan Antonovich, Belarusian Minister of Culture Aleksandr Sosnovsky, and
representatives of some Belarusian public organizations."
Source: BelaPAN, No. 33; Friday, November
14, 1997; 2:20 p.m.
News Article: Vasil Bykau's (Bykov)
Book The Wall Removed from State Committee on Printing's Publication List
"At the beginning of 1997, the Belarusian
State Committee on Printing struck out from the list of coming publications
the book The Wall (Ñüöÿíà) by world-famous writer Vasil Bykov, prepared
for publication in 1995."
"The Committee explained its decision by lack of financial means
and small number of orders collected. According to the author of the book,
these are no more than formal reasons"
"Together with The Wall by Bykov, struck out was a collection of
Larisa Geniush's works and Ten Centuries of Belarusian History, a popular
scientific book by Vladimir Orlov and Guennady Saganovich."
Source: PEN - Belarus Web site, January,
1997
(ñ) 1996-2002 by Peter Kasaty