Vitebsk fans did not let Alexander Rybak meet journalists

July 10, Vitebsk /Eduard Pivovar – BELTA/. Eurovision winner Alexander Rybak had great difficulty reaching journalists in Vitebsk today, a BELTA correspondent reports. A huge crowd of fans literally surrounded the approaches to the "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" festival directorate, preventing their idol from attending the planned "Star Hour" event. However, the young artist himself was literally basking in the audience's affection, readily signing autographs. After all, just a couple of months ago, the name Alexander Rybak meant little to anyone. After his victory at Eurovision, he instantly became a European-scale star, which was confirmed by today's press conference, which generated unprecedented excitement among journalists accredited to the festival. The meeting with the press began with a humorous incident. Hearing the fanfare of "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk," Rybak mistook it for a backing track of one of his new songs. However, this oversight did not affect the subsequent conversation, as the Eurovision triumphant, thanks to his famous charm, easily turns even mistakes into his strengths. It was the journalists who found themselves in a difficult situation at the press conference. Over the past two months, the young artist had given so many interviews that there was practically nothing left to ask him. Therefore, the press initially began to inquire about his culinary preferences and skills. He mentioned that he loves Belarusian potato pancakes (kolduny) and marshmallows, that he cooks meat dishes quite well, and also hopes to visit his homeland, Belarus, for a vacation in a year or two. The conversation frequently turned back to Belarus. For example, Alexander gladly answered the question about his connections to Vitebsk. "My grandmother Maria lives in Vitebsk, my father was born in Vitebsk," Rybak listed. Then, stumbling slightly, he continued: "My mother seems to have also been born in Vitebsk, and I was definitely born in Minsk." As for the "Slavianski Bazaar," he knew little about the festival until now. But upon seeing the Summer Amphitheatre today, he remarked that there is nothing like it in Norway. "My mother was very happy that I was going to the 'Slavianski Bazaar'," he added. Alexander also met the idea of recording his winning song "Fairytale" in Belarusian with genuine optimism. He has already prepared a Russian-language version of this hit. As for his future plans, Alexander Rybak admitted that he intends to focus more on his composing career rather than his singing career. "In 4-5 years, I won't be such an idol for little children anymore," Alexander said with a smile. For now, he is actively touring, as he is in high demand. This was confirmed by the event that concluded the press conference: Universal Music, which took the young singer under its wing after Eurovision, presented him with a "platinum disc." Rybak's album, released very recently, on June 1st, achieved such record sales. -0-