BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

04/12/2007

French Government Grants Award To Belarusian Undeground Theater

An unregistered Belarusian theater company, the Free Theater, has received a French human rights prize, Belapan reported on December 3. The Liberty, Equality, Fraternity prize, created by the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights under the French prime minister in 1988, is annually awarded to five non-governmental organizations for efforts to promote human rights, without regard for their country of origin. This year's prize was awarded in two categories -- for efforts against human trafficking and for freedom of belief, expression, and information. The Belarusian theater company and the four other winners will share 75,000 euros ($110,000) in prize money. The Free Theater comprises some 15 playwrights, directors, producers, and actors. Lacking a performance venue of their own, they stage their shows in bars, clubs, privately owned stores, and at secretly held workshops. AM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/12/3-cee/cee-041207.asp