What about Volha Niafiadava, who was replaced by a Russian in the chair of the artistic director of Kupalauski?
Dmitry Akimov, a Russian, became the new artistic director of the Kupalauski Theater. In the past, he held similar positions at the Cheremkhovo Drama Theater, Tomsk Young Spectator's Theater, and Matygin Drama Theater.
What about Volha Niafiadava?
Volha Niafiadava. Screenshot: ont.by
On the official website of the Kupalauski Theater, she is still presented as the artistic director, but the reception desk of "Nasha Niva" confirmed that she no longer holds this position.
But she remains in the theater.
Recall that in the summer of 2020, most of the Kupalauski troupe resigned in protest against the violence of security forces and the falsification of election results. Volha Niafiadava was appointed artistic director of the theater in 2021, replacing Mikalai Pinihin. At a meeting with Lukashenka, she openly condemned all who left the troupe, saying that she was "ashamed of her colleagues."
After the mass dismissals of Belarusians, Russians, who did not even know the Belarusian language, began to be hired at Kupalauski. Specialists from Russia also have to be invited to work as directors.
Even within the collective, it is acknowledged: the theater is not the same after 2020.
"We have a gap in the middle generation of actors. We cannot stage classics where everything is written for this age – 50+. And there is a shortage of qualified directors. They can't find them," actress Tamara Mironava said in an interview with "SB".