The Grand Prix of the II International Festival of Military Patriotic Song "Soldiers of the Fatherland" in Vitebsk was awarded to "USSR".
Vitebsk hosted this forum for the second time; it was first held in May 2016. This time, it was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan.
– The current festival is also marked by the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders. We must remember our history and educate children on the exploits of their grandfathers and fathers, – said Gennady Egorov, Head of the Main Department of Ideological Work and Youth Affairs of the Regional Executive Committee.
The main goal of the festival is to unite peoples and veterans of combat operations in the post-Soviet space.
– When we meet, communicate, and sing songs that evoke memories of the war, everyone feels that we are still united, we were, are, and will be together. It is noteworthy that the number of young participants has increased, which means that patriotism is not alien to them, – noted Alexander Kovalyov, organizer, chairman of the festival jury, and chairman of the Committee for International Soldiers' Affairs under the Council of Heads of Government of the CIS Member States.
More than 40 groups and soloists from Belarus, Russia, and Latvia arrived in Vitebsk, having passed preliminary selection. 150 performers from various countries had submitted applications for the festival. As the jury members admitted, it was very difficult to choose the best this time, with only a one-point difference between the participants. However, the group "USSR," founded in 2005 in Minsk and now representing Smolensk, took the lead.
The repertoire of "USSR" includes patriotic songs. The group's leader, Alexander Zhadan, believes that even songs about love and beautiful relationships between a man and a woman are also patriotic.
– Why is the group called "USSR"? I don't want to go back to the Soviet Union, but I wanted people to retain the views and concepts that existed at that time. Remember how, when closing the door, you would put the key under the doormat? When all the holidays and events were held by the entire courtyard, by the entrances... And today, a neighbor sometimes doesn't know who lives behind the wall. You walk through the city and all around – girls are smoking. They used to be ashamed, they used to hide. I don't smoke myself, and for me, this is a shock, – shared Alexander Zhadan.
Many participants of the Afghan War and simply those whose souls are touched by patriotic songs attended the festival concerts. They sang about fallen friends, about mothers who did not wait for their sons from the wars, and about widows.
– I was in Afghanistan, I served for many years in the airborne troops in Vitebsk. I attended many such competitions. My soul aches and cries for those guys we lost in Afghanistan, – said Maria Kiyanko, chairperson of the women's council of the Vitebsk city organization "Brotherhood," a retired senior sergeant.
– The military theme has always been close to me. I was born in Vitebsk into a military family; I am a senior ensign of the airborne troops. I am very pleased that the organizers pay a lot of attention to patriotic songs, because on television and radio, alas, there are different priorities now. I am glad that such festivals exist, – noted jury member, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Irina Savitskaya.
The forum in Vitebsk concluded with the performance of the anthem of the "Afghan" soldiers, "Vivat, Shuravi!". Where will the next festival be held in three years? This question remains open for now. The two main contenders are Vitebsk and Smolensk.
