Belarusian Poet Henadz Buraukin Dies at Age 77
On May 30 the Belarusian poet, journalist and diplomat Henadz Buraukin died from cancer aged 77.
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In 1978-1990 he was chief of State Television and Radio-company of Belarus, and was dismissed from the position for granting air time for members of the democratic opposition.
Being member of the parliament in 1980-1990, Henadz Buraukin was one of the promoters of a law that improved the status of the Belarusian language in the BSSR. In the 1990s, he was also head of the Frantsishak Skaryna Belarusian Language Society.
From 1990 until 1994, Henadz Buraukin was accredited ambassador of Belarus to the United Nations.
Henadz Buraukin authored numerous poetic books. Many of his poems became lyrics for songs, including a famous lullaby broadcast for decades on the Belarusian television. For his literature works, he was awarded the Leninist Comsomol Preium of Belarus (1972) and the Janka Kupala State Literature Premium (1980).