'I Love Belarus' award ceremony in Minsk

The Belarusian PEN Center on February 19 hosted the I Love Belarus award ceremony. The winners were getting their prizes from the third attempt. Two previous times the ceremony was disrupted by the Belarusian authorities. Nasha Niva reports the first award was handed out in the Fighter of the Year nomination category. Political prisoner Artsiom Dubski was declared the winner, and the award was teken by his mother Alena. She noted that this award would be a big support for Artsiom. Free Theater director Mikalai Khalezin also failed to attend the ceremony because he has been on a tour in France. The award was picked by Kiryl Ilnitski.

Swedish ambassador in Minsk Stefan Erichsson who won the Pro-Belarus award was quick to crack a joke. He said: "I suspected that I loved Belarus, but now I know it for sure".

Popular Front chairman Aliaksei Yanukevich was declared the winner in the Politician of the Year nomination.