Anatoly Yarmolenko and Syabry band awarded President’s Through Art to Peace and Understanding Award

The Artistic Director of the Syabry ensemble, People’s Artiste of the Republic of Belarus, Anatoly Yarmolenko, as well as the ensemble team were awarded a special award of the President of Belarus: Through Art to Peace and Understanding. The Belarusian Head of State presented it to the artiste during the solemn opening of the 31st Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk International Festival of Arts.

After the awards ceremony, People’s Artiste Anatoly Yarmolenko addressed the audience, “It’s wonderful! It’s wonderful that there is a festival, there is a holiday on our holy land. It’s wonderful that we have this award, which is called For Peace and Understanding. Here, we, on this earth, should always have peace and mutual understanding. In our country, outside our country, with our neighbours. It’s great that you have immortalised this festival, this holiday here in Vitebsk. There were different options. It is great that it is now ours. May it always be so. Let’s be proud of this and cherish it, dear friends.”

After his speech, the President took the floor, noting that the artist will still say thanks for the award, as usual, in his creative form. The Belarusian Head of State also emphasised that he was pleased to be in this hall, “I'm not a young politician anymore. I feel this aura, openness, sincerity. You can’t deceive me in this regard. You are real. Thank you.”