More than two years have passed since the famous Viciebsk opposition activist, a member of the Conservative Christian Party BPF, a former political prisoner Sergei Kovalenko became a student at the university in Poland, Siedlecki. During this time, the name of an active fighter against the regime has almost disappeared from the pages of Internet publications. Therefore, we believe the readers of Vitebsk Spring will be interesting to learn about what is now living this extraordinary man in every respect.
How are you, Sergei, I was learning, and who prompted you to take this step?
As I was in Poland? In the study I drove two and a half years ago. Improve education told me to party members. Zyanon Paznyak told me, they say, people to you will be treated differently. In the training course was in Siedlce and Humanities University. Siedlce – a small town with 78 thousand inhabitants. Located eighty kilometers from the Belarusian-Polish border. As for me, this is good – to get close. City University. A lot of students.
What faculty you have chosen and what motives guided though?
I went to the Faculty of Economics. Specialty: management. We must also learn to earn money, because the party has no money, nationalists nobody gives. National West, Belarus is not interested in the revival. Only the interests of its democracy and dictatorship that Belarus can not give anything. Although I believe that we have rather than a dictatorship, and the occupation regime.
Who among Belarusians studying at university?
Learn children of different democratic opposition. Besides me, there are only two Belarusian study, all the other students, who came from the country, have a map of the Pole. The Polish government gives them a stipend, as well as me. I receive 1200 zloty per month, it is about three hundred dollars, the hostel is worth a hundred. Not much, but thank you for the fact that they give.
Sergey, how are you sure that students from Belarus after graduation to return home?
Who's supposed to, he'll be back. Who went to find a job and get settled, they are here, there are – there is no difference. Everyone should have a conscience and responsibility. If not, then there is no help. Although branched internet space that exists now, people everywhere can benefit their country.
Who are the students you communicate, and how they understand what is happening in Belarus?
I communicate with Belarus and some Poles. But despite the fact that they are learning in a democratic country, the brains of most of them loaded Lukashenko propaganda. Highly loaded. When they look Lukashenko, they do not realize what it is. Somehow they incorporate video, saying: "Look, tough guy." I answer: "What is its slope? Passed Belarus. Fable says? "They look and do not understand what's what. They do not know the real life and real politics. We need to explain. One guy I once said: "After talking with you, to come to Belarus, I stopped to take my friends talk about politics. I can not listen to them. "
So conscious young and there is not enough?
Conscious very little. When I talk to people, I meet even a little conscious. In most minds loaded chaff of the dictatorship and democracy. Consciousness – a Belarusian national idea, national culture and language.
So where is the exit, what to do?
Disseminates the national idea and the truth about the real state of affairs. We must spaciousness same nationally-oriented information. People are deceived by television, deceived by propaganda. There is a collective consciousness, it is based on emotions that are thrown through the TV. Russian television propaganda for the local man as a collective hypnosis. Trying person to explain something – seems to understand. But it would go two steps back and lose the orientation – so much this influence. It is necessary to apply their own, to communicate to people the idea of ??national standards. Break consciousness can only truth and nothing but the truth. We must look for people who have no fear, and talk to them. I have an example. A month later they have come out with white-red-white flags. And save your time on those who are not able to perceive, do not.
How much time you left school?
It remains to study one year before the bachelor's degree plus two years to master, and even plus two years before the doctor. Have already doctor. I will learn as possible.
And how are you with the Polish language?
Some Poles say good, but I feel that is not enough, need to be improved. Another language, its own characteristics, and scientific terminology eighty percent is completely different.
Where you able to visit while studying in Poland?
Nowhere, except in Warsaw, during which time I was not, because there is no money for the trip. My way is simple: Siedlce – Viciebsk and reverse direction. The university engaged in education here – children. I there a more free schedule of study visits. The main thing – to pass exams and tests. Home visit once every two months.
And as your training is the wife who has two children?
My wife knows I have it done. Smart, she was an excellent student in school, and studied at the University for four and five. Works of children involved, many deals. Not only met people like my wife.
Tell me, Sergei, and for Belarus miss?
There for me, in spite of the good attitude toward me – everything is strange. It is here, everything is strange, Muscovites. I am glad all of our: Vilna Baroque in Viciebsk, not those boxes without roofs. We do not build. We must all rebuild our way to the roof were red under the tiles, as in the West. There must be around our architecture, not a stranger. It must be our history, our culture, our music. Once I walked through the Victory Square, and then jump in sandals. It is not our shoes, Russian, though, if you look at the Muscovites, they took off their sandals, now everything is folk dance groups in Boots. Do not we shod in sandals, though they are the ones who invented them. Balalaika music in schools are taught to play ... Why do we Mongolian instruments have their missing.
Has the country for two years, your absence here?
Red and green and Russian rags became more. They learned from me to hang out flags. I taught them this. Now they are fighting us with my own methods. But the fact is that, no matter how they tried, they have this cloth, and we have – the flag. For the history of our flag, the flag of our people, the best people of our country.
And what you have changed during this period?
I have become more intelligent, calm, after the prison was different to look at people. I realized that many of those who claim to be opposition, in fact – the KGB.
S. Horki, Vitebsk Spring
