Illaryon Trusau: I Want Changes

The story how a 15-year-old schoolboy "turned to Belarus".

There is an opinion that the Belarusian youth is not interested in politics and public life. 15-year-old Illaryon Trusau proves that it's not true. One can meet a young activist at a prayer service in Kurapaty, as well as at Chernobyl Way event.

Illaryon told Charter97.org about the Belarusian youth and politics, and gave three pieces of advice to young generation of freedom fighters.

- Tell us, what has formed your active civil position?

- Over the past two years, I have been keen on the history of Belarus, culture and language, and then my interest has shifted to a new level. I started attending various cultural events, performances, and began to speak only the Belarusian language.

– Who has inspired you? Parents, friends, people around?

- None of them. It was my decision made due to the Internet, various media, the very Charter-97.

I live with my grandparents, but my parents are also involved in my upbringing. They are strongly against any public activity, rallies and protests. But at the same time they support my interest in the Belarusian language and culture.

Speaking about people around me, I have many friends, comrades and associates among the Belarusian-speaking youth. There are also Russian-speaking people who encourage my desire for changes in the country. I have a classmate who shares my views and also wears a badge with a white-red-white flag.

- There is an opinion that the Belarusian youth is not interested in politics. Can you agree with it?

- Partially, yes. So far, young people are not interested in Belarusian history because of our Soviet education system. And history is also politics. It is the legacy we inherited from political actions of our ancestors. Besides, the Belarusian language also relates to politics - it's the way of communication between generations. It should be respected, appreciated; its influence on the Belarusian culture, history and the "Belarusian world" should be studied. I can't imagine an independent Belarus without the Belarusian language.

- In Russia, Alexey Navalny managed to attract young people in politics. What do you think should be done to make the Belarusian youth more active?

- Navalny used the language of the young people to tell about ideas of democracy and freedom. He uses Youtube, social networks, slang. By the way, there is no youth slang in the Belarusian language. It's also one of the problems in using the Belarusian language among the young.

I guess in order to involve the young in politics, information should be made available on social networks and in a language they understand. I mean Facebook, Vkontakte, Instagram and Youtube. According to statistics, the young spend most of their time on these social networks. We should try to spread our point of view through these "apostles" of the modern Internet.

It can be done unobtrusively, telling about culture and history, and they will decide which way to take. By the way, the older generation also needs trainings and involvement in acute social topics. Thanks a lot to the shops that focus on national symbols. They promote the Belarusian language, culture and history.

Just yesterday I saw every third person wearing the t-shirt "Belarus is the country of warriors". I was very pleased. And when a person is interested, it cannot be "broken or stopped".

– By the way, you were active during the events in Kurapaty.

- Yes. It was really tough. I still cannot realise how it could happen.

- Have you experienced pressure at school and from the police since you started your social activities?

- Speaking of school, the social teacher was talking to me. If we look into it, yes, there is pressure. I have been told many times that I will not enter any institution and they have used various useless intimidations, so typical of state employees. If we talk about the police, I am not even sixteen years old and all the protocols are drawn up on my father.

– Has it any impact on your spirit?

– No way. I have increasingly disappointed in our “security” bodies.

– What is your message to peers?

- First of all, to build ties with parents. If you are under sixteen years old, then a lot depends on decisions of parents. Second, you should keep learning. After all, there will be pressure at school. That's the point. Third, we should keep up. If you are a believer, pray, believe in yourself. Also turn to the public for moral support. There are many like-minded people on various social networks who can support both morally and spiritually. This is my message.

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