"I don't want to be penned into 'Belarusianness'". Knyrovich responded to criticism for participating in a concert on Russia Day

"I am Belarusian, but I don't want to be penned into 'Belarusianness'," Knyrovich begins with his main point.

He says he was criticized for participating in this concert:

"I'm very happy for you that you danced at 'Russia Day' in Warsaw. Volski wasn't there, because he has the dignity not to dance with 'Muscovites' on the same stage... It's disgusting to watch this," wrote one of the commentators to Knyrovich under a post about his attendance at the OUTLOUD festival in Warsaw.

Knyrovich responds that the concert on Russia Day was "absolutely wonderful". "Besides 'Dai Darogu!' and 'J:Mors', the entire cream of Russian anti-war rock music was represented: BG, 'Mashina Vremeni', 'Bi-2', 'Pornofilmy', 'Kasta', Noize MC and Monetochka. And yes, Viktor Shenderovich, Mikhail Shats, and Dmitry Bykov were also there... and Sasha Filipenko, who joined those mentioned and not so long ago successfully stated that 'Russians live with their tongues in...', which caused a certain commotion in their own ranks."

"Am I ashamed that I danced (and I did dance) to Russians at 'Russia Day'? No. I am ashamed of the person who wrote such a comment. And in Belarusian, too," Knyrovich shamed the Belarusian-speaking commentator in Russian.

The blogger explains that "there was no 'Russia Day' in Warsaw, of course."

In his opinion, there was no Russia Day, because "there were no Russian tricolors, two-headed eagles, or kokoshniks. Nobody chanted 'Glory to Russia'."

The very date of Russia Day, in Knyrovich's opinion, was chosen in such a way that it's not a sin to celebrate it — "it is dedicated to Russia's exit from the USSR", "a completely positive event that influenced the formation of independent Belarus."

Secondly, Knyrovich writes, only bands that had expressed their anti-war stance and even participated in direct support of Ukraine were represented on stage.

"And if they are like that, then perhaps we should consider whether our goals are not the same as theirs? Perhaps we shouldn't rush to call them 'Muscovites'? Should we show respect, tolerance, acceptance? Instead of digging through the internet looking for 'oh, but in such and such a year he said something not very clearly...'" — the blogger argues.

He suggests distinguishing between different Russians.

"When Tsikhanouskaya comes to Kyiv, what does she ask for? First and foremost, she asks to see, to notice the difference between the Belarusian regime (and the smaller part of society that supports it) and Belarusians. Isn't that right?

This is our usual, standard thesis: 'See the difference! Don't tar us with the same brush!' But if we demand this from others, then perhaps we should also make some small effort ourselves?

To also see the difference between 'Russkiy Mir' Shaman with Shakhryn ('Chayf'), who very untalentedly sings 'Donbass Summer', and Makarevich with his 'I don't know how to save this Russia from itself...' and even more so Noize: 'I want to watch ballet, let the swans dance...'" — writes Knyrovich.

He says he also wants to watch that ballet, also doesn't know how to save Belarus, and these lines resonate with him.

But the most important (as he himself defines it) argument of the blogger concerns personal freedom.

"I don't think anyone has the right, even with the best intentions, to explain to another how they should 'live correctly'.

And if Boris Borisovich Grebenshchikov entered my consciousness at the age of 13 (still in the deep USSR) and broke everything there, rebuilt it, setting an intellectual framework from which I have been moving through life for 40 years now, then I will go to his concert.

Especially since he is still in excellent creative form.

I will go to a concert by a Russian band, and an American one, and a Polish one, and, of course, a Belarusian one.

The attempt to artificially, forcibly drive a Belarusian into the pen of 'Belarusianness', to limit their view of the world — this is not about national identity, not about love for one's own, not about patriotism. This is about unfreedom and violence. I don't think this helps 'Belarusianness', and I don't think violence is in our national character."

Knyrovich writes that he sincerely loves Belarus and considers himself a patriot. "But I will continue to go to concerts by the bands and performers I like, regardless of their nationality. And that will not make me less Belarusian. It is strong within me, and nothing threatens it," assures the blogger.

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