"His words never diverge from his actions." Shklov residents on Lukashenko at the presentation of the book "Our President"

May 13, Shklov. The documentary biographical essay "Our President" was presented in Shklov, the head of state's birthplace. The conversation among fellow countrymen was warm and heartfelt – there were many stories and fond memories, smiles, and applause for the book's authors, BELTA reports.

The publication has been presented in various cities, but for the first time in Shklov, where the President is known and felt like nowhere else, as it was here that he began his life and work. His fellow countrymen remembered him as strict but fair, and also hardworking and determined. For example, when Alexander Lukashenko took over the Gorodets state farm in the Shklov district, the farm was in dire straits – no roads, no good farms, no forage, no milk yields. People were paid sporadically, and young people didn't even consider staying to work there.
Thanks to the future President's efforts, everything changed, and the state farm began to thrive. Milker Viktor Petakov, who had worked there for 45 years, witnessed this. At the presentation, he leafed through the pages of the new book with genuine interest, smiling as
he recalled the old days and saw iconic faces in the photographs. "Alexander Grigorievich immediately became our boss, and everything began to change: we poured gravel on the roads, began repairing the barns, and people stopped carrying milk cans on their backs and began transporting them in strollers," he recalls. "We already had enough feed during the first winter, and there was even haylage left over for the summer. He approached all matters with expertise, and everyone respected him: he was a hard worker himself, worked hard, and demanded the same from others."
Viktor Alekseevich recalls even composing a ditty about the new leader and performing it at one of the celebrations: "Lukashenko came to us from Lenin's collective farm, and he led our state farm according to Lenin's precepts." "Alexander Grigorievich responded well to my work; after all, I always sang and performed," the agricultural worker smiles. "Later, when he was already a member of parliament, he even came to listen to me at the Dzerzhinsky House of Culture."

Viktor Petakov looks at the book about the President he is holding and adds: “He is a worthy leader, such as God gives only once. He does not forget his small homeland, he tries to support and develop it so that people continue to live here, so that young people do not leave. His fellow countrymen see this and love him for it. My mother, who is already 89 years old, says: “Take care of Lukashenko, if he is gone, there will be no sense.”
The book aroused genuine interest among local residents: an hour before the presentation, huge lines formed – everyone wanted to buy it for the work collective, for themselves, or for their parents. Among the first buyers was Ekaterina Petrovskaya, directorAleksandriyskaya Secondary School, where the head of state studied, said, "Our school has an exhibit dedicated to the life and work of the President. "Thanks to this book, we can clarify and verify certain biographical details and supplement our excursions. I believe such a book should be a reference book in every educational institution."

Ekaterina Petrovskaya emphasized the importance of such examples for Belarusian youth to grow up with. "The President has earned the nation's love by personally demonstrating how to love one's land and the people who live here," she said. "His words are always consistent with his actions, and that's invaluable. We see how much he has done to ensure that we live in peace and comfortable conditions."

Irina Tsyzal, Principal of Shklov Secondary School No. 4, joined the conversation. "I couldn't miss the presentation, because it's an opportunity to touch upon the history of the Belarusian state and the biography of our leader, whom we love, respect, and are proud to be his fellow countrymen," she emphasized. "He is a very strong man and leader who thinks first and foremost not of himself, but of his country and his people. And for us, ordinary people, simple values ​​are important: peace, free healthcare, wages at work, and the ability of our children to study where they choose."

Vera Feofanovna Kostenko dedicated 50 years to leadership, 17 and a half of which she worked in the Shklov district. She proudly notes that the Mogilev region played a decisive role in the country's development. "Our statehood was born here because the first President of Belarus, Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko, was born here – a man of exceptional caliber, with whom I was fortunate to work. He was extremely talented and hardworking, always searching for new opportunities and able to mobilize those around him. He knew the village and farm labor well, and he could inspire and guide people – these qualities he always possessed. To lead a state farm at 33, especially during a transitional period, is a great gift of leadership."
Gennady Lavrenkov served as an aide to the President of the Republic of Belarus for 14 years.- Inspector for the Mogilev Region. At the presentation, he emphasized that this book is not only a 30-year history of the presidency but also a work in which one can read about a fellow countryman. "He always had the attitude: who, if not me?," the interviewee recalls. "Why do people respect him? Because he always did what he promised. He always expresses his opinion, which is listened to even abroad, so his fellow countrymen support him and dare not let him down. And we have a responsibility to work better than others, so that no one will say we are being favored." The book presentation in the President's native place was a significant event for both the entire author's team and the residents of the Shklov district. The meeting became a good opportunity to exchange memories and share impressions of the famous native of the Shklov region. One of the publication's authors, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, and Honored Scientist of Belarus Alexander Radkov, formerly served as First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Belarus, Minister of Education, and Rector of the A.A. Kuleshov Moscow State University, the head of state's alma mater. Speaking to residents of Shklov, he emphasized that our President's leadership is an innate quality, a gift bestowed upon him by nature.

"Making a book about the President is, on the one hand, simple because his entire life is before our eyes, but on the other, challenging because it requires capturing his character traits and other characteristics," noted Anatoly Isachenko, Chairman of the Mogilev Regional Executive Committee. "Our President is our state, so the book reflects not only his life's journey but also the development of the entire country."

Anatoly Isachenko noted that he, like the head of state, also headed the Gorodets state farm in the Shklov district. And the people he worked with shared the same sentiment: the President is strict, but always fair. "He always had a reverent attitude toward people, coupled with strict demands," he continued. "And this leadership training has remained with him throughout his life. It's the same today: alongside demand, there's a very reverent and caring attitude toward our people. Following his entire life, you realize: presidents aren't born—they're made. And this book once again confirms this idea."

Presidential Press Secretary Natalya Eismont emphasized that the presentation of "Our President" in Shklov was special, as the meeting was initiated by fellow countrymen of the head of state. Considering that many people in the area knew Alexander Lukashenko personally and worked with him, it was important for the creative team to listen rather than speak. "In these places, we always feel a special connection with the President," she emphasized. "In his homeland, he's different from other parts of our country—with unique emotions and feelings, a unique relationship to this land. The entire history of our country began here, as does this book." Photo by Oleg Foinitsky