The Belarusian writer has responded to criticism of her Nobel lecture.
The speech by Svetlana Alexievich triggered a storm of criticism among Belarusian Internet users. A lot of people could not stand the fact that the first Belarusian Nobel laureate was delivering a lecture in Russian and did not mention current problems of Belarus in her address to the world.
“Please, explain to your ‘heroes’ that a writer should speak their native language and should not make a rally of their Nobel lecture. Was I supposed to chant “Long live Belarus!”? Or ride a horse? I have said everything, but as a writer,” Svetlana Alexievich stressed.
Alexievich is going to touch the situation in Belarus in her speech during the banquet after the award ceremony on December, 10.
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Svetlana Alexievich is a Belarusian investigative journalist and prose writer. She wrote narratives from interviews with witnesses to the most dramatic events in the country, such as World War II, Soviet-Afghan war, fall of the Soviet Union, and Chernobyl disaster.
Her first book War’s Unwomanly Face came out in 1985. It was repeatedly reprinted and sold out in more than two million copies. This novel is made up of monologues of women in the war speaking about the aspects of World War II that had never been related before.
Her most notable works in English translation are about first-hand accounts from the war in Afghanistan (Zinky Boys) and a highly praised oral history of the Chernobyl disaster (Voices from Chernobyl).
in 2000 Alexievich became the target of the Lukashenka regime: she was accused of collaborating with US intelligence agencies, her phone was tapped, and her works were no longer published.
Belsat TV is the only Belarusian TV channel which is going to televise giving the Nobel Prize to writer Svetlana Alexievich.
On December 10, at 18:30 there will be a live broadcast with interpretation into Belarusian of the 2015 Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony at the Stockholm Concert Hall.
The state-run Belarusian Television- and Radio Company, ONT and STV channels will not broadcast the awarding ceremony.
Read also: ‘I am grateful to Belsat TV’. In-depth interview with Svetlana Alexievich
