BRSM follows Young Front’s example on expressing love for Belarus

• 12.02.2008, 12:44

Ahead of St. Valentine’s Day the pro-authorities organisation Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRSM) has started an annual action of expressing love titled “For beloved Belarus.”

Via the ideological department the BRSM members can congratulate on the Day of Love a favourite musician, sportsman, politician. According to the BRSM leaders, there is no special quota.

“Preventing some questions, I can say we have already received congratulations for some people, but we have no official documents, no quota concerning this matter,” Ivan Sinichkin, head of the ideological department of the BRSM central committee assured.

“In other words, young people write to their idols, and we are just a chain link that pass these messages during the action,” Ivan Sinichkin said.

But as Radio Svaboda reports, rank-and-file members of the BRSM say, the leaders of elementary offices received a list of people who must be congratulated. Among the recommended people are singers Alesya, Allyakhno Ruslan, Afanasyeva Inna, Hrybalyova Larysa, Darafeeva Iryna, Kalduns brothers Dzmitry and Georgy, Smolava Palina, Khlystou Alyaksei, Anatol Yarmolenka, etc.

Among the official persons and politicians are Lidziya Yarmoshina, head of the Central Election Commission; Nadzeya Ermakova, head of Belarusbank; Natallya Pyatkevich, deputy head of the President’s Administration.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka is not included in the list.

The oppositional youth organisation Young Front holds traditional actions “I love Belarus” on 14 February. All people who want to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day together with the Young Front will walk along the main city streets, pass celebrations to European and the US embassies, and mark the Day of Love under national white-red-white flags.

The celebration of the Day of Love is to begin on Freedom Square at 5.00pm.