Kavaleuski, Kastsiuhova and Harbunova Gift Books with Rahatko's Cleavage to Diplomats in Berlin and Paris. What's the Idea?
Previously, democratic forces brought books by Uladzimir Arlou about the history of Belarus. Now — fashionable autofiction.
Author of the book "Nasi z saboj" (Carry with You), Anastasiya Rahatko. Photo from Anastasiya's archive.
Quite recently, Belarusian delegations of democratic forces, meeting with European diplomats, presented books explaining the country: about history, culture, and protests. These could be English-language albums like "Heritage of Belarus" or books by Uladzimir Arlou — something that provides context and helps to "understand Belarus".
Now, symbolic gestures are taking a different direction. Valer Kavaleuski, Anastasiya Kastsiuhova, and Volha Harbunova, during trips to Berlin and Paris, presented local diplomats with Anastasiya Rahatko's book "Nasi z saboj", an autofiction in Russian with a distinct visual accent on the cover — the author's cleavage.
Why this particular book and what should a European diplomat understand from it? We found out from Anastasiya Kastsiuhova, a representative of the delegation, and Anastasiya Rahatko, the author of the book.
“We prefer something less standard”
Anastasiya Kastsiuhova, a communications expert, former employee of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office and daughter of political scientist and political prisoner Valeryia Kastsiuhova, says that the decision about the book came naturally:
“We are not a political organization with any special decision-making procedure. The idea simply arose — we all read this book and decided to take it with us this time.”
According to her, the books were presented to diplomats who understand Russian and with whom warm relations had already been established. If the publication existed in English, they would have taken it. The books were given during a recent trip to the German parliament and meetings with diplomats in Paris.
When asked what a diplomat should understand after such a book, Anastasiya Kastsiuhova replies:
“It's a work of art. The essence of a work of art is that everyone who reads it finds something of their own in it. If a person "must" understand something specific after reading a book, it's not literature, but propaganda. There are very interesting and honest chapters about Belarus that don't propose it should remain frozen in the role of a heroic victim or a failed democratic project. And it reveals the contemporary Belarusian experience, what it's like to live in such a historical time.”
She emphasizes: “Nasi z saboj” is a part of Belarusian culture, just like more “classical” gifts. It's simply a less standard choice.
“Books are as much a part of Belarusian culture as linen napkins, straw spiders, or books about protests, which are more popular as gifts.
We prefer something less standard: for example, we brought a disc with an album by the band ŠUMA, T-shirts with Tshesler's print, or “Zekameron” by Maksim Znak.”
“The reaction to the book is positive. One must understand what diplomatic work is and what kind of mindset people in this field have. These are people very open to new things; curiosity and research interest are essential for them. It's very important for them to be deeply immersed in the subject they work with; it's very important for them to learn and hear something they haven't heard before. Such an unconventional gift is certainly interesting to them, and as for the cover — what is there to discuss, in principle? There were no questions about it whatsoever,” says Anastasiya Kastsiuhova.
Belarusians on social media reacted ambiguously to such a gift to diplomats, but Kastsiuhova perceives the situation calmly:
“I treat this criticism the same way I treat any other. People have the right to criticize whatever they want.”
“This is an excellent book for getting to know Belarusians”
The author of “Nasi z saboj”, former editor-in-chief of Kyky.org and former head of communications for Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's office, Anastasiya Rahatko, describes the book as a very personal story:
“It's a treasure chest of values — characters, events, situations that characterize our time. And because these stories are not about heroes or villains, but about what is warm, human, funny, and vulnerable in us.”
Author of the book "Nasi z saboj", Anastasiya Rahatko. Photo from Anastasiya's archive.
The book was born as an attempt to come to terms with her own identity:
“I wrote the book to emerge from a personal existential crisis after re-evaluating work in politics and media, concepts of career and relationships, life in a woman's body, as a Belarusian, an emigrant. I needed to learn to carry my identity with me — that's why I wrote this book and why readers feel that it makes it «easier to breathe».”
And that's why, the author believes, it can be understood by a foreign reader:
“I don't have imposter syndrome. I believe this is an excellent book for getting to know Belarusians.”
Photo by Anastasiya Rahatko
The author reacted enthusiastically to the idea of presenting the book to diplomats:
“Over years of friendship with Nasta Kastsiuhova, we have often discussed the topic of agency — that very ability to act and define oneself, which is often denied to Belarusians, women, and emigrants. But both of us, given our characters, still try to build it.
“Nasi z saboj” is about naming oneself aloud, like carving it into your skin as a tattoo, speaking in your own voice.
When Nasta wrote to me with the idea of presenting my book to diplomats, I was delighted and not at all surprised. She said it was a shared idea with Valer Kavaleuski and Volia Harbunava — and I gladly signed the books with the diplomats' names.”
Belarus as Experience, Not as a Guidebook
Rahatko openly says: foreigners often don't understand Belarus, seeing it only through politics, sanctions, and war:
“During my work at the Office, I spoke a lot with foreigners, ambassadors, diplomats, politicians, journalists, and I was angry that they didn't understand us at all. Most often, this happens because they view Belarus in the context of Russia, of the entire region; for them, Belarus has no selfhood. They know about sanctions, dictatorship, political prisoners, the war in Ukraine — that's all. Our country is almost empty beyond that; we are either victims or aggressors. I wrote the book so that it could deepen this knowledge of superficial facts with emotions. Therefore, I believe, “Nasi z saboj” is a good voice of its era. And may there be more such voices.
And honestly, as a gift, “Nasi z saboj” is certainly better than merch in the form of pens or any paperweights.”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya holding “Nasi z saboj”. Photo from Anastasiya Rahatko's archive.
What a Diplomat “Carries with Them” in the End
The author notes the main thing that remains after the book:
“I think a foreign reader, including a diplomat, will understand that Belarusians are a complex, independent people who have found themselves in a total geopolitical struggle. And considering the latest trends in America and Europe, foreign diplomats might reflect that the time when we needed to learn from Western countries has passed. Now it's time for them to learn from Belarusians — as they have for the first time experienced that democracy is fragile and, it turns out, can be lost.”
Anastasiya says that from the very beginning she thought about the book reaching beyond the Russian-speaking audience and resonating in a broader European context:
“We have already translated fragments into Polish and English to offer the book to foreign publishers — this is my priority for this year. And, by the way, this spring a Belarusian translation should also be released — I'm very much looking forward to that as well.”
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