VITEBSK, 17 July (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko presented the Union State awards to litterateurs and artists at the opening ceremony of the International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk on 16 July, BelTA has learned.
The awards were granted to film director, People's Artist of Belarus Anatoly Alai, artistic director of the Theater of Film Actors of the National Film Studio Belarusfilm Aleksandr Yefremov and a team of directors Irina Margolina, Oksana Cherkasova, Yelena Petkevich and Irina Kodyukova.
The Union State awards are bestowed for a considerable contribution to strengthening friendship, brotherhood and cooperation between Belarus and Russia. Winners are announced every two years. The first Union State awards were presented in 2002.