"Belarusian Spring" chose to hold festival in Kyiv
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Description: ANCHOR:
Also in Ukraine, organizers of the "Belarusian Spring" festival chose to hold their festival in the Ukrainian capitol Kyiv, instead of in Belarus. That's because they say the festival would be considered 'too political' in Belarus, and they could be punished for organizing it. To protect their identity we will not reveal their last names. Now here's more from NTD's Ukrainian team:.
STORY:
The main attraction at the Spring festival is skiing on asphalt. It may sound harmless, at least politically, but the organizer says cultural activities like this are taboo back home in Belarus. That's because the Belarusian regime is trying to clamp down on all forms of political dissent, and even cultural activities sometimes get caught in the crossfire.
[Alexander, Organizer]:
"Despite the fact that modern youth doesn't really influence politics, the Belarusian Government tries to control it, and doesn't let it run on TV. That is one of the reasons why we hold this activity here. We want to give the Belarusian people the chance to express themselves."
Larisa designed the logo for this year's Spring festival. She came all the way from the Belarusian city of Brest to take part in it, but now says she's afraid to go back home.
[Larisa, Designer]:
"People disappear here. One day you realize that person is gone and no one knows where he is. And he was a dissident. I have a friend in Brest who lost her husband like this."
She added that she doesn't think that the situation in Belarus will change anytime soon, but that there should still be an opposition to President Lukashenko's regime.
The festival will also include movies, photo exhibitions and performances of Belarusian bands.
NTDTV, Kyiv, Ukraine
Author: NTDTV
Source: YouTube
