Permanent long-term director of the international festival "Slavonic Bazaar", the director of the Center of Culture "Vitebsk" Rodion Bass filed March 1 resignation. Simultaneously with the applied for dismissal and the chief accountant of the institution. According to members of the public from Vitebsk, soon there may be other resignations, reported IA Regnum.

This step Bass, according to unofficial information, due to the fact that some time ago, his first deputy instead Olga Salnikova (R. Bass' wife), was appointed deputy head of the culture of Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee Alexander Sidorenko. In addition, the recent efforts by the authorities critique format and level of "Slavonic Bazaar", including "the dominance of Russian pop music."

Meanwhile, the fact that the director of "Slavonic Bazaar" submitted his resignation, in the center of culture "Vitebsk" was heard for the first time. "Rodion M. on sick leave. He is now in hospital. And where you can read what he had written statement? We do not know," - commented Olga Salnikova wife Rodion Bass.

"Slavonic Bazaar" that their existence must in many respects Rodion Bass (awarded the title of honorary citizen of Vitebsk), is the largest arts festival, has long received international recognition and acclaim. The change of leadership of the festival for three months before the start of the holiday puts an endangered. Sidorenko, who had so far only experience through the Belarusian Republican Youth Union and youth policy is absolutely unequal replacement Bass - how much criticism of the latter may have expressed.

Representatives of cultural Vitebsk and many citizens are very concerned about the events that occur in the administration of the "Slavic Bazaar". City authorities decline to comment. Press service of the Ministry of Culture also still no official comments on the matter does not.

At a press conference in Minsk on January 15, Alexander Lukashenko instructed the new Minister of Culture Boris Svetlov reform festival "Slavic Bazaar". "I wish there was something we saw new. When we see the RTR, ORT, ONT, as duplicated the same artists with the same jaded mime musical compositions, I perceive it is critical. We need something in this regard, reform - then said Lukashenko. - I will ask the new minister of culture to address this issue".

Resignation Bass held shortly after the Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Anatoly Tozik February 22 met the Organizing Committee for the XXII International Festival "Slavonic Bazaar", discussing the conceptual approaches in the festival program and its key activities. The festival is scheduled for July 11-17, 2013, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the preparation and holding of the festival is Tozik. Among the main events of the festival - the gala opening and closing concerts, concerts of Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Union State, XXII International Song Contest "Vitebsk - 2013", XI International Children Music Contest "Vitebsk - 2013" Youth Day theater and film projects, some creative actions.

According to IA Regnum і “Kamsamolskaja Prauda u Bielarusi”