Vitali Silitski - The A to Z of Belarus

I would like to express my gratitude to the following people who, each in his or her way, contributed to this work with their knowledge of the subject matter and editorial skills: Joe Arciuch, Thomas E. Bird, Nicholas Dutko, Lavon Jurevi, Vitat Kipel, Zora Kipel, Tamara Kolba, Jahien Lecka, Adam Maldzis, Lara Merlin, Siarhiej Navumyk, Halina Rusak, Alex Silwanowicz, Walter Stankevich, Serge Tryhubovich, Ale Vasileski, and Vera Zaprudnik. Special thanks go to my wife, Nadzia, whose unfailing support lightened my task in a multitude of ways.

Jan Zaprudnik

First and foremost, I am grateful to Jan Zaprudnik for the honor of being offered to continue his work. I would like to express my gratitude to Valer Buhaka, Andrej Dyko, Vitaut Kipel, Ale, viatana, Anton ahvinie, Mikaaj Pakaje, Hienad Sahanovi, and Volha Stuynskaja, for help in preparing the second edition of this dictionary. My work was completed at the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law at Stanford University, where I was a visiting scholar in 2006. I acknowledge support and help from the Center with deep gratitude. Last but not least, I would like to acknowledge Uadzimir Katkoski, a young Belarusian journalist and scholar who I never met in person but whose relentless efforts to present Belarusian language, culture, and history online resulted in the creation of numerous Internet resources that I used extensively in my work. Uadzimir died, at the age of 31, on 26 May 2007, one day before the second edition was to be sent to publisher. We dedicate this book to Uadzimir in recognition of the immense contribution to the Belarusian cause that he made in his unjustly and agonizingly short life.

Vitali Silitski