The family of a Latvian teenager who interviewed the President is starting a new life in Vitebsk
For almost a month now, 16-year-old Ilya has been living in Vitebsk. Some time ago, his mother Natalia and his brother and sister moved here. For now, they are cramped in a hotel, but soon the issue of housing will be resolved for the family. The woman has already been offered job options in her specialty as a cook, and educational institutions will be found for the children this Friday. In addition, on August 5, the entire family will receive documents confirming they have become citizens of the Republic of Belarus. They submitted their applications this Wednesday, and the issue was resolved in a matter of days thanks to the local authorities and the support of the President.
Ilya is already making plans for the academic year. As a 5-year-old boy, he decided that he would definitely become a military man, but not in Latvia. The teenager managed to tell the President about this during a short interview on the opening day of the "Slavianski Bazaar" on July 14. At that time, the schoolboy shared that he would pursue a military career either in Russia or in Belarus. Now Ilya is preparing to enter the Vitebsk Cadet School, and after that he aims for the military academy. As his relatives explained, the teenager will follow in the footsteps of his grandfathers and great-grandfathers, who previously reached high ranks in Russia. There were military pilots and military technicians in the family.
"On the day we planned to interview Alexander Lukashenko, we didn't know if it would happen. We sat on a bench near the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, waiting for the moment along with journalists from various publications. Then a person approached us and said that the interview would take place soon. Immediately, adrenaline surged through our veins. We stood up and waited; perhaps due to stress, it seemed like a long time. The press secretary wanted to postpone the interview, but Alexander Lukashenko said, "Don't disturb people working." This later became the headline of the interview in many publications. I had prepared six questions, but I only managed to ask one. It was the main question from my author's program "Number One or the Formula for Success," which usually ended with the question: "What is your formula for success?" Since Alexander Lukashenko once said that presidents are not made but born, I asked about his formula for success as a person, an individual, a father, and a grandfather, because I believe he is a good person. He is positive, has a sense of humor, and is very open," recalls Ilya Karoza. "I want to thank Alexander Lukashenko for giving the interview. This interview changed my life. Now I will become a citizen of the prosperous Republic of Belarus."
Students of the Riga Children's Academy of Radio and Television have already interviewed the President of Belarus. A decade later, Academy Kids TV decided to repeat the story – they wrote a letter and prepared for the meeting. "Alexander Grigoryevich was a legend at the academy for 10 years because he answered so sincerely and with humor. The interview from 10 years ago was passed down from mouth to mouth. And we are very glad that we managed to get an interview now. As soon as the President saw the children, he immediately remembered them – they were in the same uniform. He approached them and talked with them with great joy. It was only very unpleasant how the Latvian authorities reacted to this, instead of praising the children who, despite the not very good relations between the two countries, went and took the interview," says Nadezhda Bukharova, founder of the Riga Children's Academy of Radio and Television. As Ilya's grandmother, she is particularly worried about his fate, but believes that everything will work out for them here.
Natalia Karoza learned that her son should not return to Riga anymore during a visit to Vitebsk. The day before, she was invited for a conversation at the State Security Service of Latvia, after which the woman decided to pack her things. The children could be taken away, as they are citizens of Latvia, and their mother is not. "I returned home with trembling hands. During the conversation, I was asked why I hadn't explained to my son that he shouldn't interview the President of Belarus. At the end of the conversation, they asked me to sign a paper stating that if my son continued in the same vein, he would face criminal liability. I said that I would come with a lawyer and sign it if he allowed it. As a result, in the evening we packed our things into boxes, and the next morning we left. We had previously planned to move to Belarus, and had been doing the paperwork for the children since April," shares Natalia Karoza.
According to her, she and the children have already gotten used to Vitebsk. They are still exploring the city, walking a lot. The younger ones have already started attending the regional palace of children and youth, where they do appliqué and drawing. Seven-year-old Sofia is planned to be enrolled in a music-focused school, and five-year-old Daniel will be placed in a kindergarten. "I'm willing to take any job," says Natalia. "The only important thing for me is to be able to take the children to kindergarten and school and pick them up."
By the way, the children's radio and television academy itself has also "moved" to Vitebsk. The equipment was transported together; for these purposes, local authorities organized a green corridor. Cars with flashing lights accompanied them from the very border. "We loaded all the equipment worth 50,000 euros and Natasha's belongings into the car, and everything arrived safely. The President told me to establish an academy here, so it must be done. Today we are already looking at premises, and we will try to open the academy in the near future," says Nadezhda Bukharova.
"I don't see the point in returning to Riga and reclaiming the academy, rehabilitating what has been trampled. I understand that this country (Latvia. - BELTA's note) probably doesn't need it. Moreover, the Russian language is being completely destroyed there now. And if it started with education, it is now spreading to creative teams. I have no complaints against Latvia. Despite the fact that it is not my homeland, I have done a lot for this country in terms of art, culture, not only the academy. I feel very sorry for the guys who didn't finish their studies with us, and I'm sorry to part with the academy's teachers," says Nadezhda Bukharova with sadness. - We worked very transparently, and now they are making various accusations, shouting: "the academy worked without documents." And I laugh: for 12 years, as if underground. Everyone knew about it, we paid taxes, there were no issues. I believe that this project in Latvia has come to an end."
The academy will be revived in Belarus, and it is expected to cover all regional centers. The professional pop vocal teacher, whose students have won international competitions and even made it into the top ten at the adult Eurovision Song Contest, intends to cope with the task of creating a media space for Belarusian children quickly and creatively. "Here we are joining a very beautiful project that the President is talking about now - it's the pioneer movement," explains Nadezhda Bukharova. - We are not targeting young people - they are already formed personalities. The project consists in the fact that we can create a separate academy, but gradually open radio and television studios for children in all regional cities. This story will have a great continuation, because where Europe is closing its window, Belarus is opening its front doors."
"BELTA"