The Gruzdevy Sisters dramatically recounted how Minister of Culture Ruslan Charnecki threw them out. «Like dogs»

Minister of Culture Ruslan Charnecki and the Gruzdevy Sisters. Collage

Singers Gruzdevy Sisters complained that they could not find common ground with the new Minister of Culture Ruslan Charnecki. And described what happened almost a year ago in the ministerial reception room.

Charnecki's predecessor in the ministerial chair, Anatol Markevich (during his work as chairman of the Navahrudak District Executive Committee, he was remembered for organizing a prayer service asking for rain) apparently loved the Gruzdevy Sisters. They themselves often published photos with him. And now they boast that Markevich enthusiastically resolved their issues.

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Anatol Markevich and the Gruzdevy Sisters. Photo: social media

Indeed, that was their golden age — the sisters were invited to perform everywhere. This was generously paid — the artists could afford a coat from «Putin's favorite brand» for 3500 rubles.

But everything changed in December 2024, when Lukashenka appointed actor Ruslan Charnecki as Minister of Culture. It appears Markevich did not bequeath his love for the Gruzdevy Sisters to him.

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Ruslan Charnecki

Valentina and Aliaksandra remained out of the picture.

In their video, the indignant sisters recount that for several months they tried to get an audience with the high-ranking official — to introduce themselves and discuss their issues. They did not name the person, but, as Nasha Niva learned from people in Belarusian show business, it is indeed Charnecki they are referring to.

They were unable to officially schedule an appointment. The secretary repeatedly stated that such an opportunity was unavailable. Even when the sisters called on Monday morning, when personal appointment bookings began, they were told that, unfortunately, all available time slots were already taken.

The Gruzdevy Sisters wrote letters — but a dialogue still didn't materialize. Then the sisters decided to go all-in and simply arrived at the minister's reception room on March 17 last year.

— The secretary wouldn't budge: «Girls, you don't need to, you've been answered». I said: «How have we been answered if the issues aren't resolved?!» — «If you don't like something, go to court».

The Gruzdevy Sisters were already preparing to leave and had even stepped into the corridor, when suddenly the main actor in this tragicomedy appeared in the reception room.

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Aliaksandra rejoiced and told her sister that they could now approach and personally tell him about their problems. Armed with an icon of Saint Nicholas, Gruzdeva rushed to the embrasure.

— I said: «You know, for three months we haven't been able to get an appointment with you. Your secretary isn't letting us in».

Charnecki asked what issues they wanted to bother him with — the artist explained. One of the questions, as Aliaksandra notes, was particularly important to them. The minister reacted nervously to it: «Don't invent conspiracy theories!»

Gruzdeva was utterly bewildered. And then she began to tell Charnecki about the year 2020 and ask for an appointment.

Next, according to Aliaksandra, there was a theatrical pause:

— He looked at me with terrible eyes, his face changing…

And then, according to the woman, the Minister of Culture raised his hand, pointing to the door with two fingers, and loudly grunted while doing so.

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Aliaksandra Gruzdeva shows how Charnecki drove her into the corridor. Screenshot of a TikTok video

Even Gruzdeva was bewildered by such a situation.

— I asked: «What?». And he grunts and points to the door with his fingers. And in this silence, I don't understand what's happening, and I have an icon in my hands… I look into the eyes of this official, he looks at me — maybe 30 seconds passed, maybe a minute. I mentally prayed: «God! Saint Nicholas! Help me to hold back and not burst into tears, help me to simply gather my strength and say something sensible to him». My strength was completely depleted. You know, it's like being hit over the head with an axe, you don't understand… Thanks to this icon of Saint Nicholas, I said: «Alright. Next time then. Later then».

In the corridor, Aliaksandra burst into tears. She confesses that she felt as if she had been thrown out like a dog. It is clear that the sisters expected recognition for their work in 2020. They seriously ponder how they resisted the West, which waged its struggle with the help of Sharp's methodical guide.

— Did I think in 2020, when we were driving to the stele and people shouted at us: «Shame!», then these thousands of comments on social media… Scarecrows were placed near our house… When others shook our hands and said that we had become a moral compass… When the hosts of «Say, don't be silent» said that the entire show business was hiding behind our backs… Did I think that in 2025, in an official's office, he would point me to the door like a dog? Without even talking, without even asking…

Aliaksandra Gruzdeva calls her state at that moment a small death.

The sisters are still struggling with that meeting today. In June, they tried to write a letter to Charnecki, in which they described what they felt. But it didn't help to improve relations.

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