Niaklajeu and Marchuk are nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature

EuroBelarus

04.02.2012

Poet Uladzimier Niaklajeu was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature by the Belarusan PEN Center, while the official Union of Writers of Belarus nominated Georgi Marchuk for the third time.

The PEN Center marked that even if an author has not been translated into many languages, it is not a reason to reject his or her candidature. Moreover, according to one of the provisions, if a writer is interesting, the commission can order a translation of his or her works. However, there have been no such cases yet.

In 2011, Uladzimier Niaklajeu was awarded the Kurt Tucholsky Prize by the Swedish PEN Center; he became the laureate of the Big Award of the Poets’ Biennale, which is traditionally presented during the Moscow International Festival of the same name for considerable achievements in the field of poetic art, as well as the winner of numerous Belarusan awards - Vasil Bykaŭ Prize For Freedom of Thought, Yuriy Zakharenko Prize, and Hliniany Viales Award.

As the chairperson of the Union of Writers of Belarus, Nikolai Cherginets, has explained, their choice is caused by the nominee’s works, which are noticed both in the country and abroad. Georgiy Marchuk is the author of 8 novels, 50 plays, books of fairy tales for children, the book of short stories "Chaos", a collection of aphorisms, and scenarios of films. His novel "Province Flowers" is cinematized.

Also, besides the writers, this year, the human rights defender and political prisoner Ales Bialiatski is nominated for the Nobel Prize from Belarus.