Medals In Honor Of BPR 100th Anniversary Awarded In US

The medals were awarded by Chairperson of the BPR Rada Ivonka Survila.

On June 22 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, the medals dedicated to the centenary of the Belarusian People’s republic were awarded. Chairperson of the BPR Rada Ivonka Survila awarded medals to politician Zianon Pazniak, several public figures, including Yanka Zaprudnik, Vitaut Kipel, Ala Orsa-Ramana, Hanna Surmach, as well as the first US ambassador to Belarus, David Swartz, svaboda.org reports.

Zianon Pazniak is the discoverer of Kurapaty, the leader of the Belarusian Popular Front, chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front opposition in the Supreme Council of the 12th convocation.

Vitaut Kipel is the leader of the Belarusian diaspora in the United States, journalist, researcher and author of several books on the history of Belarus and the Belarusian diaspora in the United States.

Viachka Stankevich is a journalist and activist of the Belarusian diaspora in the United States, director of the Belarusian service of Radio Liberty from 1990 to 1998, Chairman of the Main Department of the Belarusian-American Association in 1969-1971 and 2007-2011.

Ala Orsa-Ramana ia a public and cultural figure of the Belarusian diaspora in the US, the American chemist. She promotes the US Belarusian history and culture. Helps the victims of the Chernobyl catastrophe.

Hanna Surmach is a journalist and social activist, in 1993, Chairman of the World Association of Belarusians “Fatherland”, later - the leader of the Belarusian diaspora in the Czech Republic and the United States, chairman of the Belarusian-American Association, editor of “Belarus”.

David Swartz for 29 years worked as a diplomat in the US State Department. In the 1992-1994 year - the first United States Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus. He was one of the organizers of the visit of US President Bill Clinton to Belarus in January 1994. Currently, Dr. Swartz is one of the Executive Directors of the Southwest Center for Belarusian Studies University, Kansas.

Jan Zaprudnik (real name - Siarhei Vilchytski) is a Belarusian historian and publicist, one of the most active members of the Belarusian diaspora in the United States, an honorary member of the Belarusian PEN Center.

The medal was approved during the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the independence of the Belarusian People's Republic “ to be awarded for lifetime achievements in the work for the fulfillment of the ideals of the Act of March 25, 1918, including the research and popularization of Belarusianity, the acquisition and strengthening of the state independence of Belarus, the fight for freedom and democracy in Belarus.”

The medal to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the BPR was awarded to more than 180 people. The presentation of the medals will take place throughout the year.