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Poet Nyaklyayew barred from speaking at Moscow international book fair following protest from official Belarusian delegation

Prominent Belarusian poet Uladzimir Nyaklyayew, leader of the “Tell the Truth!” campaign, was denied the opportunity to speak at the 23rd Moscow International Book Fair, which began in the Russian capital city on September 1, BelaPAN reports.

Mr. Nyaklyayew had been officially invited by the organizers to attend the fair and deliver a speech.

“After the Belarusian authorities learned about the invitation, the information minister of Belarus refused in protest to go to Moscow and the official Belarusian delegation to the fair gave an ultimatum, saying that if Nyaklyayew was allowed to speak, the official delegation would not speak,” Mr. Nyaklyayew told BelaPAN. “For the sake of the friendship between the Russian and Belarusian nations, it was decided not to give the floor to Nyaklyayew.”

"Why, then, did they invite me?” Mr. Nyaklyayew said. “Those present could have heard two alternative points of view, that of mine and the official delegation’s. And the whole things once again resulted in a conflict.”