The main event of the past week was the inauguration of the Belarusian president. The ceremony was watched not only in our country, but also far beyond its borders. How many cameras filmed the ceremony, how the presidential motorcade traveled through the city, who made the president's suit and where the president’s certificate was made? These and other details of the inauguration ceremony in a story run by the First News TV channel.
Thirty-five cameras were placed along the route of the presidential motorcade - from the National Library to the Palace of Independence. All in all, 65 cameras were used to broadcast the ceremony. Some cameras were placed in the Palace of Independence, some - in the State Flag Square.
Drones and camera carts were used for filming. The carts were remotely controlled by cameramen. According to director Ilya Krevchik, such a number of cameras were used for the first time to broadcast the presidential inauguration ceremony.
Motorcyclists from the special unit of the Strela traffic police escorted the motorcade. For them, escorting the top-ranking officials of the state is, one could say, a routine job. They also ensure safety on the roads of our country. The escort prepared for the inauguration outside Minsk for a week.
When motorcyclists first escorted the motorcade?
Motorcycle-mounted escort adds solemnity to the whole ceremony. For the first time the car was escorted to the inauguration in 2011. The Mercedes Pullman featured in this year’s ceremony was also used the inauguration in 2020.
“The inauguration ceremony of the newly elected president is a carefully-crafted event. I am absolutely convinced that in the minutes before hour X, before the beginning of the ceremony, we will still be double-checking and fine-tuning something. The preparation is completed only the second the ceremony starts,” said press secretary of the Belarusian president Natalya Eismont.
How many cameras were used to cover the inauguration ceremony
Thirty-five cameras were placed along the route of the presidential motorcade - from the National Library to the Palace of Independence. All in all, 65 cameras were used to broadcast the ceremony. Some cameras were placed in the Palace of Independence, some - in the State Flag Square.
Drones and camera carts were used for filming. The carts were remotely controlled by cameramen. According to director Ilya Krevchik, such a number of cameras were used for the first time to broadcast the presidential inauguration ceremony.
How the presidential motorcade was filmed
The action cameras were used to film the passage of the presidential motorcade. They were placed all over the motorcycle body - on the side, front and back. Cameras were also installed on the helmets of motorcyclists. There were even special glasses that enabled the drivers to have a first-person view of the route.
Motorcyclists from the special unit of the Strela traffic police escorted the motorcade. For them, escorting the top-ranking officials of the state is, one could say, a routine job. They also ensure safety on the roads of our country. The escort prepared for the inauguration outside Minsk for a week.
When motorcyclists first escorted the motorcade?
Motorcycle-mounted escort adds solemnity to the whole ceremony. For the first time the car was escorted to the inauguration in 2011. The Mercedes Pullman featured in this year’s ceremony was also used the inauguration in 2020.
Inauguration of President Aleksandr Lukashenko in the Grand Hall of the Palace of the Republic on 21 January 2011
Motorcyclists began moving in a column, then fanned out across the road. As the main car approached, they formed a square around it. Four motorcycles rode on the edges, one in front, forming a wedge-like formation. Two additional motorcycles flanked the side mirrors of the main car, maintaining a distance of only 30 cm from the president's car.
Who made the president's suits
The attire of the head of state for the inauguration ceremony was created at the atelier of the Belarus President Administration. The designers and stylists came up with the idea and the craftsmen brought it to life.
Four suits in various shades of blue were created for the inauguration. Blue is a classic choice, according to the atelier staff. Lead designer Irina Petrova noted that blue color can be matched with various shirts and ties, making it one of the most versatile options.
Where the president’s certificate was made
The act of taking the oath and the certificate of the president of the Republic of Belarus were both printed at the Belarusian Printing House. This is also where Aleksandr Lukashenko's certificate as Chairman of the Belarusian People’s Congress was made.
The designer and the consumer, the Central Election Commission, worked together on this. Parameters, format and font were all agreed upon in advance. An electronic layout was prepared first, followed by the selection of materials for the cover. In this case Belarusian-made leather was chosen. The National Emblem and the text were embossed on the cover using a hot-stamping technique.
Who was invited to the inauguration ceremony
Traditionally attending the event were representatives from various countries. Special seats were reserved for journalists from the presidential press pool. Natalya Eismont explained that the guest list focused primarily on those who had been most actively involved in the recent election campaign.
"Certainly, these are trusted people who worked actively and the president has recognized their contributions. But it also includes public figures who engaged with people, worked on social media and participated in the campaign with enthusiasm," she said. "These are representatives of the social sector, artists, and organizers of the Marathon of Unity, which traveled across the entire country. The main instruction in forming the guest list was to ensure that no one was overlooked."
What the first inauguration ceremony of the president of Belarus was like
Chairman of the Supreme Court Valentin Sukalo recalled that in 1994 there was no such word as “inauguration” in common usage. The ceremony was called the procedure of the president's assumption of office. Valentin Sukalo attended that ceremony as the Justice Minister and a member of the Central Election Commission.
“It was an unusual, very solemn, very exciting moment. More than 300 people were present,” said Valentin Sukalo. “The ceremony of the president's assumption of office had to be prescribed in the Constitution. The Constitution, which was adopted on 15 March 1994, introduced the institution of presidency and determined the procedure of the president's assumption of office.” The document also included the text of the oath of office, which consists of 24 mandatory words.
What had changed in the inauguration ceremony by 2001
The idea to make the ceremony more solemn than it was in 1994 belongs to Mikhail Myasnikovich, who back then was head of the Belarus President Administration. Former CEC head Lidiya Yermoshina recalled that Mikhail Myasnikovich asked for a tape with a recorded inauguration ceremony of Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
The Palace of the Republic hosted the inauguration ceremony of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, 20 September 2001
“I can say for sure that we have adopted some things. For example, the text read out by the chairperson of the Central Election Commission is very similar to the one read out by the chairperson of the Constitutional Court of Russia on the announcement of the election of the president,” Lidiya Yermoshina said. “It's even hard for me to imagine my state of mind at that moment, in 2001. This is probably how athletes who participate in the Olympic Games feel before the competition.”
Ahead of the inauguration ceremony in 2001 Metropolitan Filaret presented Lidiya Yermoshina with a consecrated gold cross, which was supposed to help her during the procedure.
When the military first took the oath of allegiance at the presidential inauguration
A very beautiful and important tradition - the swearing of the oath of allegiance by representatives of the Armed Forces and other military formations to the newly elected president and the Belarusian people – was introduced in 2001.
Leonid Maltsev, who back then served as Defense Minister, believes that such a tradition raises morale and shows that the president stands together with the people, with the army. “I will say that this is one of the most important factors for the whole nation,” Leonid Maltsev added.
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