Adamovich and Siuchykau make peace...with a scandal! (photo, video)

The pre-history of the literature scandal is as follows. Publisher Uladzimir Siuchykau published two Slavamir Adamovich's poems in the anthology of love poems and songs "She and Me". Adamovich lived in Norway then and knew nothing about the poems in the book. Correspondingly, Siuchykau did not ask for permit to publish the poems as he did not know that it might be a problem. Adamovich found this out only a month ago, when he saw this book accidentally. Moreover, Siuchykau offered him to buy the book, for the price higher than in the shops! Adamovich got furious and demanded 10 thousand dollars of compensation from Siuchykau. However, in a couple of weeks he agreed to two bottles of cognac. They decided to sign the peace agreement in the cafe "Byarozka", and invited no journalists apart from Euroradio's correspondent. They came there as if they were about to have a duel, with "seconds". Siuchykau took his friend Lyavon Barshcheuski, Adamovich - a friend of his Ales Mazanik.

 

Adamovich got down to concrete statements straightaway.

Slavamir Adamovich: "At present moment, I am interested in whether Mr. Siuchykau is ready to apologize today? If yes, then I will sign a bill that I have no claims againsy this person - and we'll say goodbye. Besides, I wrote two conditions: 2 bottles of cognac - one per each poem - and a book "She and Me". 

 

Siuchykau indeed decided to apologize - in his own way.

Uladzimir Siuchykau: "Slavamir Adamovich got enough publicity for his anniversary in this regard. If this is not enough for him, and he will be pleased to hear my apologies, then, I apologize to you, Slavamir. I apologize for not being careful enough and including you into my anthology. I also promise you here honourably, with witnesses, that I will never do this again. If I compose any anthologies, you will not be there". 

 

Adamovich explained why he had decided to give up the idea of 10 thousand dollars compensation and agreed to two bottles of cognac.

Slavamir Adamovich: "I did it to make it all finish in the most proper way. As it would take me 6 250 dollars to file a claim and to pay the lawyer so that this case would be considered by the Collegium of the Supreme Court".

 

So, the festive moment of passing the two bottles came.

Uladzimir Siuchykau: "Slavamir, you dress in a decent way... And you wrote in your letter "Apart from that, take two bottles of cognac - to your choice - with you..."

Slavamir Adamovich: "Yes, to your choice".

Uladzimir Siuchykau: "So I bought you the French cognac "Martel", two bottles, as we agreed, to my choice".

With this, Siuchykau took out of his bag and put on the table before Adamovich two bottles of cognac "Martel"... 50 grams each!

Slavamir Adamovich: "I can imagine what prisoners or kingpins, with whom I had contacts for 10 months some time ago, would do to you now. That's it, Siuchykau, you have 15 minutes to go to the nearest shop!"

Uladzimir Siuchykau: "Don't you like the French "Martel"?

Slavamir Adamovich: "I don't give a damn! Whether it is French, and how much it is. Besides, how much is it?"

Uladzimir Siuchykau: "Br 70 thousand per bottle".

Slavamir Adamovich: "You've got 15 minutes to go and buy normal bottles which means half a liter ones. Otherwise, we'll finish on that. To my deepest regret you still don't understand that I am not joking! I have the last word, citizen Siuchykau!"

Siuchykau went to the shop and brought Adamovich two half a liter bottles of coniac "Borysfen". "Slavamir, you've substituted quality for quantity", - smiled Lyavon Barshcheuski.

   

Lyavon Barshcheuski: "I would say it so: serious things depend on how seriously we think of them. Siuchykau should have asked for permit, and there is my share of guilt here as I said "Where will we find Adamovich?" I think that this claim would cost more to him that we would pay him as a fee. The biggest sum we could have possibly paid him is 50 dollars - a dollar per line, and something more for copy write violation. All this is for the benefit of the two Belarusians - it is better not to fight but to spend money on cognac in any case!"

 

So, the drama ended on this. Adamovich got his cognac and a book with written apologies, while Siuchykau got a note that Adamovich had no claims against him. The opponents had a symbolic drink as a farewell and left in different directions.