Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko recognized the contributions of those who drive the country forward through concrete deeds at the reception held on behalf of the Belarusian head of state to celebrate Old New Year on 13 January, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko called the current event a good tradition, born in sovereign Belarus. It has already become traditional to celebrate the Old New Year and to host a reception on this occasion on behalf of the president, a reception that, to the delight of some and the regret of others, concludes the series of winter holidays.
Turning to the attendees, the president stated: “It is a pleasure to see you. In your person, I primarily wish to express gratitude for the past year to your colleagues, employees, subordinates, your friends, and your loved ones.”
The head of state extended words of gratitude to representatives of the media, especially journalists, experts, and analysts. “You are always by our side. Without exaggeration, you defend the country’s interests in our information space. Alongside the military. Although you are now at the forefront, even standing ahead of our military personnel.”
“This is not just lip service because I’m here at this evening and many of you are here too. No. As I’ve said before, these are difficult times. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. I’m telling you this sincerely,” Aleksandr Lukashenko continued. “The series of events around New Year holidays (you can’t call them festive). Who expected there would be such events? No one expected it.”
“I am telling you sincerely, and I have access to a vast amount of information: I do not know which way this mad world will turn,” said the president.
He pointed out that in this situation, media representatives and journalists are on the front line. “I am absolutely convinced we will not repeat what happened to us not so long ago [because] young, very creative, and, as it’s fashionable to say now, very beautiful people, especially women, have joined our ranks (and in the Year of the Belarusian Woman, this is important),” the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that the current information landscape is overloaded with a huge number of interpretations, which are not always correct and are often false. “Yet you must constantly go out to the people and speak the truth. The truth which, unfortunately, is not as interesting as fiction, not as flashy as fake news, deepfakes, and the like,” remarked the Belarusian leader.
The president stressed that Belarusian journalists carry out their work with honesty, professionalism, and skill, repelling information attacks designed to create division within society. “The people place their trust in you, which is the ultimate recognition of your labor,” he stressed.
The head of state presented medals, president’s letters of commendation, and honorary title badges to media professionals, prominent state officials, and sports figures.
The Medal of Francysk Skaryna was awarded to Sergei Gusachenko, First Deputy Chairman of the National State Television and Radio Company, and Olga Shpilevskaya, Director of the National Branch (Representative Office) of the Interstate Television and Radio Company Mir in Belarus.
The head of state presented the president’s letters of commendation to Irina Yegorshina, Head of the Photo Information Processing Sector at the Belarusian Telegraph Agency; Anton Vasyukevich, General Producer of Belarusian Radio at the National State Television and Radio Company; Maksim Vecherkov, Staff Correspondent at Second National TV Channel; Natalya Gorokhovik, Chief Director of the Directorate of the First News TV Channel at the National State Television and Radio Company; and Yevgeny Pustovoi, Political Commentator at Stolichnoye Televideniye.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also bestowed badges for honorary titles. The Honored Media Worker title was conferred upon Dmitry Zhuk, Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Belarus Segodnya Publishing House, an institution of the Belarus President Administration. The Honored Officer of State Security Agencies title was conferred upon KGB Chairman Ivan Tertel. The Honored Master of Sports title was conferred upon Ivan Litvinovich, Athlete-Instructor of the Belarusian national trampoline team at the National Olympic Training Center for Gymnastics.