Family of teenager from Latvia who interviewed Lukashenko received Belarusian passports

The Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee’s Department of Internal Affairs put an end to the story of Ilya Karoza from Latvia, who interviewed the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, during the Slavianski Bazaar Festival of Arts. His family received Belarusian passports and are starting to count down their new life in the city on the Dvina River – as reported by the sb.by correspondent.

In a solemn ceremony, ID cards and biometric passports were handed over to the teenager, his mother Natalya Vladimirovna, sister Sofia and brother Daniel by Vyacheslav Durnov, the Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee. Congratulating the newly-made family of Belarusians, he stressed that the Republic of Belarus is a socially oriented and peace-loving state pursuing a policy of good neighbourliness, “The past of Belarus instilled in our people a sense of duty and responsibility for peace and tranquillity in our cities and villages. We believe that you felt it while staying in our country. Dear friends, we really hope that the new page of your biography will open up new opportunities for you, and the status of citizens of the Republic of Belarus will make it possible to realise all your dreams for the benefit of your family and our common state. I hope it becomes your favourite too.”

Words of sincere gratitude for the comprehensive support to the President of Belarus and everyone who took part in the fate of her family were expressed by Natalya Karoza. She stressed that now they feel much safer, with their life getting back on normal track. She has got a job as a cook in the wonderful team of Vitebskenergo enterprise, her eldest son entered the Vitebsk Cadet School, as he dreamed, the youngest son already attends kindergarten, and her seven-year-old daughter will go to study from September 1st at the local gymnasium. There are also opportunities for housing.

16-year-old Ilya Karoza is fully aware of what a fateful turn his life has made. The teenager is convinced that the main thing is that in such difficult moments there are good people nearby who can support, “I am grateful to God that I have met such a wonderful person, the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko. I would like to tell the whole world that Belarus will always lend a helping hand and will never bow its head before a threat. I am glad and I am proud that I became a citizen of the Republic of Belarus. Thank you very much for your trust!”