Among Belarusians in Moscow, there are those who were born in the modern Belarusian-Russian borderlands: Smolensk, Pskov, and Bryansk regions. From early childhood, residents of the borderlands were instilled with a Russian identity, pride in the glorious deeds of Peter the Great, and, most importantly, the belief in the unity of the Russian people.
Despite this, local dialects, songs, traditions, and, to a large extent, historical memory still point to the Belarusian past of these areas of the Russian Federation. Locals, just like 100 years ago, refer to their eastern neighbors as “Muscovites” or “katsaps,” and to themselves as “khokhly.” Moreover, “khokhol” in this case is not a synonym for Ukrainian. It refers to someone who speaks with a fricative -g, calls money “hroshi,” and is, in fact, no different from their western brothers from the Gomel region.
Our hero, candidate of technical sciences, Leon Stepanovich Tsigelnikov, who has dedicated several decades to Belarusian culture in Moscow, believes that Belarusian land reaches Bryansk, and this territory should not be unjustly classified as part of the Great Russian areas.
- At a recent meeting with Belarusian philosopher Alexey Derman at the Russian State Library, you mentioned that your father is from the Belarusian part of Bryansk. Tell us about your roots.
I want to clarify – from the occupied part of Bryansk. There used to be a Belarusian village, now non-existent, where I was born. My mother was born in Drogichin in the Brest region, and my father in the Chernigov province, in a village that is now located in the Chausy district of the Mogilev region.
A hundred years ago, the northwestern regions of Chernigov were populated by Belarusians. After the revolution, Chernigov province was abolished, and its Belarusian districts were incorporated into Mogilev and Bryansk regions. In the 1930s, the Bolsheviks initiated a widespread Russification there. Many Belarusians had the ending -ov added to their surnames: for example, my surname before the revolution was simply recorded as Tsigelnik. This means “brick” in Belarusian.
– How often do you visit your father’s homeland?
Unfortunately, I do not visit my native places, as it is in the Chernobyl zone. I once traveled by train to the Novozybkov district – and that’s it. This is a forgotten and abandoned land that neither of the two governments wants to deal with. Novozybkov is the most radioactive city in Russia.
– What language did your father speak? Was it more Belarusian or Russian dialect? What is the situation with Belarusians in Bryansk now?
When my father passed away, I was two years old, so I remember little. I think it was a mix of Belarusian and Russian. He was a mathematics teacher at school, and he hardly taught the children in Belarusian.
– How did you come to Belarusian culture and movement?
This happened in 1991. At that time, there was a rally in Moscow on Tverskaya Street in support of Lithuania, and I joined a group of Belarusian activists under the white-red-white flag.
– Which Belarusian organizations are you a member of? How often do you communicate with Belarusians? What do you do in the cultural field?
I am officially a member of the Society of the Belarusian Language and Culture named after Francysk Skaryna. The political Belarusian organizations I was previously a member of are now banned in Russia under pressure from the current Belarusian leadership.
– Do your relatives support your interest in Belarusian culture?
My niece supports it along with her husband, who speaks Belarusian fluently.
– Have you met other Belarusians from Bryansk, Pskov, or Smolensk?
Yes, many times, both in Moscow and in Smolensk.
– Tell us a little about your professional activities.
I am a pipeline transport engineer, a candidate of sciences, and I have over 50 publications of a scientific nature at a high level.
– How do you think we should develop Belarusian culture with such a powerful neighbor as Russia?
First of all, we need to elect a Belarusian as president by nationality and a patriot by conviction, who would defend the interests of his country.
– And finally, what is your favorite Belarusian poem?
My favorite is by our poet Ryhor Baradulin “To the Belarusians of the World”!
Alexey Veremovsky,
“Belarusian Smolenshchyna”