There is a list of cultural figures on the Internet, the mention of which is undesirable in the official media. This list (without any stamps or signatures) is reported to have been handed out to all the editors of the official media and radio stations. This list contains the Belarusian cultural figures, as well as representatives of Russia and the CIS countries.
The following Belarusian groups were included in the list: «Lapis Trubetskoi,» «Palats,» «Krama,» «N.R.M.,» «Neuro Dubel,» Krambambulia,» «Naka,» the entire composition of the Belarusian «Free Theatre,» writer Olga Ipatova, People’s Artist of Belarus Zinaida Bondarenko, poet Gennadi Buravkin, Sergei Zakonnikau and Anatoli Vertinski, artist Aleksei Marochkin, playwrights Vladimir Khalip and Andrei Kureichyk, filmmakers Yuri Khaschevatski and Vladimir Kolos.
Russia is represented in the «black list» by «DDT,» «Naive,» «Tarakany,» singer Dmitry Spirin, writers Andrey Bitov, Boris Vasilyev, Alexander Gelman, Viktor Erofeev, Leonid Zhukhovitsky, Kiril Kovaldzhi and Eduard Uspensky. Western countries are represented by the following undesirable artists Neil Tennant and Rob Luis, the group Pet Shop Boys, Tru Thoughts, Wah Wah 45, 7 Samurai, DJ — Format, Bonobo, Florian Kelly, playwright Tom Stoppard, the participants in the campaign of solidarity with Belarus, Kevin Kline, Ian McKellen, Samuel West, Jude Law and Kevin Spacey.
It is noteworthy that a number of Belarusian musical performers have already been under unofficial ban until 2007.
Many Respected People in One Place, Naka
In turn, listed figures take it with some irony. Thus, the group «Naka» noted that there were «a lot of wonderful people» in one list. «Another folly of the originator. I wonder if it is he or they?» the musicians are asking on the official group blog.
Playwright Andrey Kureichik, author of the screenplay for «Lubov Morkov» (Love-Carrot), «Yolki»(Damn), «Yulenka» (Little Yulia) and others, expressed similar oppinion. «My humble name goes as a separate line together with playwright Tom Stoppard and writer Andrei Bitov, DDT and «Lapis Trubetskoi» groups, actor Kevin Spacey and Jude Law. The fact that the Belarusian State puts me in a number of these people can not but cause pride and sincere gratitude to the Belarusian ideology,» he said,»Nasha Niva.»
«On the other hand, policy of «black lists» with respect to the people of art is somehow embarrassing in the XXI century. Savagery and barbarism haven’t, unfortunately, left this country yet,» said the playwright, informing about his withdrawal from the Republican Public Council for Culture and Arts at the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus.
«It’s too much to be on two lists. And I choose the list with more talented and decent people,» says the official statement of the cultural figure.
According to him, «the Council does not provide for an open discussion of all its members, while a wide range of viewpoints is undesirable and cooperation is possible only with «ideologically correct» cultural workers.»
