The mother of a young man executed over the 2011 subway bombing in Minsk has been voted the Person of the Year 2012 in Vitsyebsk.
A local news website's readers gave Lyubow Kavalyow, mother of Uladzislaw Kavalyow, the most votes in an online poll. They had been asked to choose the person who was of the greatest use to Vitsyebsk or who contributed to promoting the city in the world in 2012.
Ms. Kavalyow, who has campaigned to clear her son's name and recover his body, beat six other candidates, gaining 35 percent of the vote.
When reached by BelaPAN, the woman said, "I am very thankful to people for constantly supporting me in word and in deed. And the results of the poll are also support. I know that I'm not alone."
Opposition activist and former political prisoner Syarhey Kavalenka was the runner-up in the vote with 24 percent. Young 3D street artists Kiryl Kulikow and Stanislaw Rabunski came third with 16 percent of the vote.
The website news.vitebsk.cc launched the award in 2008. Volha Khizhynkava, winner of the 2008 Miss Belarus title, won the debut award.
