How The General Interacted With The Blogger

• Artem Sinitsyn, “Solidarity”
• 18.09.2026, 8:41

An eloquent skit performed in one of the “capitals” of the regional “Dozhinki” festivals will resonate with the residents of that town and other district centers.

While visiting Korelichi ahead of the “Dozhinki” festival, the head of the Grodno Regional Executive Committee Yuri Karaev spoke with local blogger Artem Yashkov.

According to the regional executive committee’s press service, the blogger “was happy to engage” with the official and “supported all the initiatives of the local authorities.”

Here is a quote from the conversation between the general and the blogger.

Karaev: “Are we doing anything for the district?”

Yashkov: “You’re doing everything! Of course, there are various issues, but you can’t please everyone. Still, it’s great!”

Karaev: “We’re working here to lead you toward the light. And you, citizens, get moving too—wash your windows, your glass panes…”

Yashkov: “I agree!”

Karaev: “…spruce up your hallways. Right?”

Taking the opportunity, the Korelich blogger thanked the local authorities, who “are trying so hard.” He emphasized that this kind of thing happens once in a lifetime, surely referring to the last-minute repairs in the district center, where the regional “Dozhinki” festival will soon be held.

Let’s correct Artem Yashkov: Korelichi already hosted the regional harvest festival in 2011. It was then that the district center underwent its last major renovation. Judging by the content of Yashkov’s blog, he doesn’t stop to wonder why Belarusian district centers have to wait years for this “once-in-a-lifetime” event, unable to renovate their utilities or build a new swimming pool on their own.

But the Korelichi blogger also has some interesting, sometimes curious videos that will resonate with residents of other district centers across the country who have experienced sudden major renovations.

Here he is praising a neighbor who “didn’t sit on the sidelines” and “decided” to paint his house in time for the big celebration. When asked if he had chosen the color himself, the neighbor replied that the house next door had already been painted yellow, so now he “would have to” paint his yellow too.

Meanwhile, the blogger strolls through the district center and lavishes praise on local officials who “put up benches for you.” The comments pointing out their absence were apparently written by those very people “who can’t be pleased.” The blogger has no answer as to why benches can only be set up on major holidays.

In another video, he explains how the regional traffic police ordered the removal of excess “speed bumps” from one of the streets—speed bumps that had already been installed in large numbers in the heat of the rush. And once again, questions remain unanswered: Couldn’t everything have been thought through from the start? Without wasting public funds?


But the Korelichi blogger has his own opinion: the main thing is that common sense prevailed after all.

And finally—here’s what people are writing to Artem Yashkov in the comments (aside from enthusiastic remarks about the transformed Korelichi):

“Only the center of the village has been fixed up. They’re doing some things, but not others. At the Center for Children with Disabilities, where kids with disabilities are cared for, they haven’t even replaced the windows—the room is small, and their yard is tiny.”

“They just crammed it into the busiest intersection, where trucks are constantly braking. Wasn’t there a better, vacant lot available?” (About the new rental building for young professionals).

“I wish they’d give apartments in this new building to families with many children! But they aren’t giving them any… everything’s being rented out.”

“People just have nowhere to work.”

“The color scheme of the buildings looks like a mental hospital.”

“Judging by the way they’re laying the new asphalt, it’ll last until winter—no longer.”

“Instead of adding extra lanes at the train station along the main road, they keep alternating between installing and removing the temporary lanes. It’s complete nonsense—yet they’ve built an entire avenue on Gastello. In short, they don’t do anything where it’s needed, but where there are only two cars a day, they’re building an entire avenue.”

Artem Sinitsyn, “Solidarnast”