Ivulin Got a Tattoo in Memory of Melkazyarau — Here's the Meaning Behind Them
Journalist Aliaksandr Ivulin published photos of his new tattoos. He told Nasha Niva that there's a touching story behind them.
Photo: a_ivulin / Instagram
Both of Aliaksandr's tattoos are connected to journalist Mikita Melkazyarau — Ivulin's friend who suddenly passed away in December 2025. Ivulin placed these tattoos on his right leg, where previously he only had one tattoo — a boy with the number "25" on his T-shirt, running towards a Belarusian ornament.
The first of the new tattoos, the words "The Sun Will Look In" (Загляне сонца), Ivulin got on February 13. This is the name of a YouTube channel about the history of Belarus, which Melkazyarau previously hosted — now Ivulin has taken over:
«I really wanted to get something optimistic. At that time, I already knew that "The Sun Will Look In" would continue to exist, and that I would join the team making it. It's about Mikita, about hope, about the path, and about the sun eventually peeking through.
Getting that tattoo was very painful. When I got my very first tattoo, it turned out quite large, so "The Sun Will Look In" had to be placed below the knee, and the skin there is very delicate. But I wanted this big reminder.»
Photo: a_ivulin / Instagram
Ivulin placed this tattoo above the tattoo of the boy with the number 25. On March 5, he added another tattoo — he got the Latin words Decus in Labore below it:
«Mikita had a tattoo with such text. He got it after being impressed by the story of a bookstore in Porto, where those words are part of the decor, and which supposedly inspired J.K. Rowling. I like how it sounds in Belarusian — "Dignity in Work".»
Mikita and I went through life with this big narrative — it's very important to do your work and do it well. That's why I decided to get those words, and I like how it all turned out on my leg. The boy who is running has a strong foundation in "dignity in work", he is running towards Belarus, and from above, the sun will surely peek in.»
Ivulin doesn't intend to stop at three tattoos. Possible plans include getting a Paddington Bear tattoo: this is a British literary character, a hero of numerous films and cartoons.
«He's a bear who also found himself in forced emigration, but he emigrated to London. There, various adventures happen to him. At first I thought of getting him tattooed, especially since he resembles my dog, but for now I decided to take a break. What's there needs to settle in.»
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