BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 20. Azerbaijan’s
representative, Nafisa Akieva, was awarded the special prize of the
President of Belarus, “Slavic Hope,” at the 35th International Pop
Song Contest “Vitebsk,” which took place as part of the
International Arts Festival “Slavic Bazaar in Vitebsk,” Emin Hasan,
director of the contest’s national selection in Azerbaijan, singer,
and producer, told Trend.
The honorary award was presented by Belarusian Deputy Prime
Minister Natalya Petkevich.
“The ‘Slavic Hope’ Special Prize of Belarusian President
Aleksandr Lukashenko, awarded to Nafisa Akieva, is one of the most
prestigious special awards of the contest and serves as recognition
of the Azerbaijani singer’s high level of artistic mastery on the
international stage,” noted Emin Hasan.
The “Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk” International Arts Festival,
founded in 1992, is one of the largest cultural forums in Eastern
Europe. Every year, it brings together artists, musicians, theater
troupes, and cultural figures from dozens of countries around the
world. One of the festival’s main events is traditionally
considered to be the “Vitebsk” International Pop Song Contest,
which introduces new talents to the world stage.
At the conclusion of the competition, Soraya from Italy was
awarded the Grand Prix. Amalyat (Kazakhstan) won first prize.
Second prizes were awarded to Elena Kuznetsova (Belarus) and Alexei
Osichev (Moldova), while third prizes were awarded to Irakli
Galelia (Georgia) and Nurdoolot Derkembayev (Kyrgyzstan).
