"Decolonization means coming and taking your place." Nasta Rahatko will participate in the Russian book festival. Sulima condemned her, and she didn't keep silent in response

After the sharp statements by writer Kolya Sulima about "colonial tradition," the author of the book "Carry with You," journalist, and former media manager Nasta Rahatko spoke up. She called on Belarusians not to "hide in a corner" but to conquer international space, writes Reform.news.

The presentation of Nasta Rahatko's book "Carry with You" is indeed scheduled to take place at the Berlin Russian-language Book Fair — and it is around the participation of Belarusian authors in it that disputes have erupted.

The writer responded to the criticism as follows. In her opinion, the Belarusian community spends too much time reflecting on a neighboring country instead of building its own.

"The problem is that as long as you are fighting against someone else's influence, and not increasing your own, you remain in that someone's shadow... To move to a qualitatively new level, you need to stop living in constant fear that Russia will devour you," Nasta states.

"We are very bad at exporting ourselves"

Rahatko's main message is the deficit of subjectivity. She believes that Belarus remains a "mute" region for the world, spoken of either in the context of the war in Ukraine, or in the context of Russia or China. As someone with extensive experience in media and political PR, she is confident: our voice must be heard everywhere.

"As long as you don't tell your story, someone else will do it for you. And you won't like that story. In my opinion, Belarusians should shout about themselves, be present at all festivals, exhibitions, conferences — whatever."

For Nasta Rahatko, decolonization is not about ignoring Russian-language platforms, but about physical presence on them with one's own meanings. She emphasized that although her book currently exists in Russian, a Belarusian version and translations into other foreign languages are already being prepared.

"Decolonization is not about hiding in a corner and twitching an eye every time someone says Minsk is clean. Decolonization means coming, taking your place, and getting others used to the idea that you're not going anywhere," she summarizes.

Criticism towards Belarusian participants of the Bebelplatz Russian-language book fair, which starts in May, began with a sharp post by writer Kolya Sulima. He called the Berlin fair a "dump" and a "Russian fest," where Belarusian authors are forced to coexist with figures of the Russian liberal emigration. Sulima believes that "free Russian culture" in emigration still remains colonial in relation to Belarusians and Ukrainians.

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