Leanid Marakou
Encyclopedia
Leanid Marakou — a Belarus
ian journalist, writer and historian-encyclopedist.
in 1984. Worked as a maintenance engineer at the Minsk Computer Plant, then at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
. In the beginning of 1990th, changed his occupation to that of an importer of home and professional electronic equipment for Belarus. Traveled frequently in the North, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Far East, in the Western Europe and United Arab Emirates, became a successful businessman.
In the mid-1990th changed drastically his activities, turning to investigation of fate of his executed by the Bolsheviks uncle, a favourite student of the greatest national poet of Belarus, Yanka Kupala
, legendary poet of the 1930th, Valery Marakou
. Study of the poet's biography (about which L. Marakou has published a monograph later on), as well as those of other perished relatives had grown into a systematic and professional research of history of all repressed during the Stalin's period cultural and public figures of Belarus. That became also possible due to obtaining of temporary access to the classified archives of the KGB
in Belarus.
Marakou is the author of unique encyclopaedic 10-volume directory (15 books, 9 of which have been published by the beginning of 2008) “Repressed literary men, scientists, educators, public and cultural figures of Belarus. 1794-1991” (Belarusian
: "Рэпрэсаваныя лiтаратары, навукоўцы, работнiкi асветы, грамадскiя i культурныя дзеячы Беларусi. 1794-1991"). This directory contains more than 20,000 biographies of people executed or perished in the Joseph Stalin
's concentration camps (Gulag
s), major and less-known figures of the Belarusian culture of the time. Other milestone works published by Marakou: "Extermination" (Belarusian
: "Вынішчэнне") - a research book dedicated to repressions committed against Belarusian literary men, "Victims and Executioners" (Belarusian
: "Ахвяры і Карнікі"), - a documentary investigation about fate of the victims and their torturers during the period of mass executions of the 1930th, as well as a two-volume reference book "Repressed Orthodox clergymen and priests of Belarus. 1917-1967" (Belarusian
: "Рэпрэсаваныя праваслаўныя свяшчэнна- і царкоўнаслужыцелі Беларусі. 1917-1967").
Marakou is a talented Belarusian writer of prose. His first short stories had been published in 1998. During following years, a series of collections of his short stories arrived. Stories by Marakou usually originate in the years of Stalin's repressions and Leonid Brezhnev
's stagnation, they trace down fate of people resisting the totalitarian regime. Characters from the books by Marakou are mostly people who stand out by their hate to injustice, uncompromised will to fight for their freedom, for better life. It’s not uncommon for Marakou also to write stories with a thrilling, dynamic plot, often based on the facts from his own biography. Marakou is a member of the oppositional Union of Writers of Belarus, full member of the International PEN
, winner of numerous literary awards. Married, has a son and a daughter.
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
ian journalist, writer and historian-encyclopedist.
Biography
Born April 15, 1958 in Minsk. Graduated the Minsk Radioengineering InstituteBelarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics
The Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, also known as BSUIR , is a scientific and educational center in Minsk, Belarus The Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, also known as BSUIR , is a scientific and educational center in Minsk, Belarus The...
in 1984. Worked as a maintenance engineer at the Minsk Computer Plant, then at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus is the national academy of Belarus.-History:...
. In the beginning of 1990th, changed his occupation to that of an importer of home and professional electronic equipment for Belarus. Traveled frequently in the North, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Far East, in the Western Europe and United Arab Emirates, became a successful businessman.
In the mid-1990th changed drastically his activities, turning to investigation of fate of his executed by the Bolsheviks uncle, a favourite student of the greatest national poet of Belarus, Yanka Kupala
Yanka Kupala
Yanka Kupala — was the pen name of Ivan Daminikavich Lutsevich , a Belarusian poet and writer. Kupala is considered one of the greatest Belarusian-language writers of the 20th century.-Early life:...
, legendary poet of the 1930th, Valery Marakou
Valery Marakou
Valery Marakou was a Belarusian poet and translator.- Short biography :...
. Study of the poet's biography (about which L. Marakou has published a monograph later on), as well as those of other perished relatives had grown into a systematic and professional research of history of all repressed during the Stalin's period cultural and public figures of Belarus. That became also possible due to obtaining of temporary access to the classified archives of the KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
in Belarus.
Marakou is the author of unique encyclopaedic 10-volume directory (15 books, 9 of which have been published by the beginning of 2008) “Repressed literary men, scientists, educators, public and cultural figures of Belarus. 1794-1991” (Belarusian
Belarusian language
The Belarusian language , sometimes referred to as White Russian or White Ruthenian, is the language of the Belarusian people...
: "Рэпрэсаваныя лiтаратары, навукоўцы, работнiкi асветы, грамадскiя i культурныя дзеячы Беларусi. 1794-1991"). This directory contains more than 20,000 biographies of people executed or perished in the Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
's concentration camps (Gulag
Gulag
The Gulag was the government agency that administered the main Soviet forced labor camp systems. While the camps housed a wide range of convicts, from petty criminals to political prisoners, large numbers were convicted by simplified procedures, such as NKVD troikas and other instruments of...
s), major and less-known figures of the Belarusian culture of the time. Other milestone works published by Marakou: "Extermination" (Belarusian
Belarusian language
The Belarusian language , sometimes referred to as White Russian or White Ruthenian, is the language of the Belarusian people...
: "Вынішчэнне") - a research book dedicated to repressions committed against Belarusian literary men, "Victims and Executioners" (Belarusian
Belarusian language
The Belarusian language , sometimes referred to as White Russian or White Ruthenian, is the language of the Belarusian people...
: "Ахвяры і Карнікі"), - a documentary investigation about fate of the victims and their torturers during the period of mass executions of the 1930th, as well as a two-volume reference book "Repressed Orthodox clergymen and priests of Belarus. 1917-1967" (Belarusian
Belarusian language
The Belarusian language , sometimes referred to as White Russian or White Ruthenian, is the language of the Belarusian people...
: "Рэпрэсаваныя праваслаўныя свяшчэнна- і царкоўнаслужыцелі Беларусі. 1917-1967").
Marakou is a talented Belarusian writer of prose. His first short stories had been published in 1998. During following years, a series of collections of his short stories arrived. Stories by Marakou usually originate in the years of Stalin's repressions and Leonid Brezhnev
Leonid Brezhnev
Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev – 10 November 1982) was the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union , presiding over the country from 1964 until his death in 1982. His eighteen-year term as General Secretary was second only to that of Joseph Stalin in...
's stagnation, they trace down fate of people resisting the totalitarian regime. Characters from the books by Marakou are mostly people who stand out by their hate to injustice, uncompromised will to fight for their freedom, for better life. It’s not uncommon for Marakou also to write stories with a thrilling, dynamic plot, often based on the facts from his own biography. Marakou is a member of the oppositional Union of Writers of Belarus, full member of the International PEN
International PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
, winner of numerous literary awards. Married, has a son and a daughter.