Last Saturday, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk was awarded with the Order of Liberty which honour special merits of citizens for strengthening the Sovereignty &
Independence of Ukraine, consolidating Ukrainian society, developing
Democracy, advancing socio-economic and political reforms, and
advocating the Constitutional Rights and Liberties of Man and Citizen.
 |
Svyatoslav Vakarchuk - January 2016
Photogr. Unkn. |
This award has been given to the artist by the president of Ukraine,
Mr. Petro Porochenko.
 |
| Photogr. Unkn. |
Taking advantage of the occasion, Vakarchuk addressed him with a few words.
The
full English translation of Vakarchuk's speech has been posted on
Voices of Ukraine website.
The
original version (in ukrainian) is available on
Novoye Vremya website.
Here are the major points of this talk:
"Thank you for this award. It’s an honor for me to receive this
award from the State, which I always have and always will hold as the
nearest and dearest in the world. Unfortunately, awards alone will not solve the problems facing us."
"The enemy that erodes Ukraine from within – corruption, total injustice,
ignorance, the low standards of the so-called elites – is much more
insidious and dangerous than any external enemy. To defeat this internal enemy, we also need heroes – heroes in Ukrainian politics and government."
"I would really like to conclude by saying that the country is waiting
for changes, but the truth is, the country isn’t waiting for anything
from the government, not anymore. People do not trust the government.
Not because it is bad; but because [people in] the government are the
same as all the rest. And today, we need people who are capable of great
feats, we need supermen. "
"Neither power nor political battles interest me. I am telling you
this because I care! I care about your reputation, I care about the
reputation of the country, and about its future. This is my country, and
I live here. Mr. President, regard my words seriously – they are not
directed against you personally, they are not an attempt to tarnish you
as an individual. These words are directed to all in the Ukrainian
government. And it’s not just my individual voice – it is, literally,
the voice of the people of Ukraine. And pay attention to them today,
because tomorrow may be too late."
 |
| The Order of Liberty award |
This Order of Liberty will remind me that every day, one must do more
to ensure that one’s country is free. I will remember that I myself
have not yet done enough to finally make our country better."
Translation: Voices of Ukraine
