MINSK, 1 September (BelTA) – An attempt has been made to sell awards of People's Writer of Belarus, Hero of Socialist Labor Vasil Bykov. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned it during the open lesson “Historical memory - the road to the future” on 1 September, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said there is always space for heroic deeds and prominent individuals in history.
The president noted: “I was stunned by one interesting fact yesterday. At the very beginning as a prelude to today's conversation… I brought physical evidence with me. The eldest son brought all of it to me yesterday.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko demonstrated several awards he had brought with him: “Here is a star of the Hero of Socialist Labor dating back to the Soviet times. Such a star was accompanied by an Order of Lenin back then. Here is a lapel badge of the People's Writer. And here is an Order of the Red Banner of Labor. All of it belongs to, I hope, our famous writer Vasil Bykov. What stunned me? Some relative offered these [awards] for sale at a marketplace for $30.”
The head of state stressed that Vasil Bykov is a prominent figure in Belarusian history. “A complex person. I know it well. He is not with us today,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked. “But he always appreciated these things. These things are not given away for free.”
“And in this manner – certainly I blame the relatives first and foremost, all of it started with them – all of it was crossed out,” Aleksandr Lukashenko believes.
He continued: “Well, it is up to the relatives to decide. But we have no right to forget our people. Albeit complex people but prominent historical figures. It is part of our history, too.”
Speaking about the sale of the awards, Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked: “It is a small thing, a negative thing that should not be part of our life.”
