Talk:Anatoly Lebedko

Again, I don't understand why one earth we are using Russian spelling on Wikipedia? This is the same issue as with mister Lukashenka/Lukashenko. Here it's even worse. Liabedzka is a Belarusian-speaking person, and his native tongue is Belarusian, so why does English Wikipedia picks up and uses the transliteration from Russian? I don't understand. --rydel 16:59, 21 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Probably this question should be addressed to Anatoly Lebedko himself not Wikipedians. UCPB site (English version) provide Russian transliteration. Same is true for news sources used for article. --EugeneZelenko 01:29, 23 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Yeah, it seems to be his preferred form for some reason, perhaps because it's easier to pronounce in English. All sources I've found use Lebedko as his name. Lukashenka/Lukashenko is more borderline I'd say, as the Belarusian transliteration is much more widely used in his case. --Delirium 04:14, Oct 23, 2004 (UTC)

And they are all wrong. News sources all used Associated Press, and I am sure Associated Press does not even have a Belarusan-speaking reporter from Belarus. Here is one more point for you to consider. I am pretty sure it says "Lyabedzka" or "Liabedzka" in his own passport. You wanna bet? We can e-mail him. Or my sister, I think, also has his mobile phone number. Do you want me to call and ask how it's spelled in his passport, gentlemen? I sure we'll do it once Mr. Liabedzka is out of the hospital. --rydel 22:16, 23 Oct 2004 (UTC)

I don't think we were arguing about what it says on his passport. We're arguing over which name is used in English. For example, the city of München is called Munich in English, so we use that name. This person appears in English to be called Anatoly Lebedko, including by his own political party, so it would be odd to use an name that nobody else, when speaking English, uses. Wikipedia follows usage; it doesn't dictate it. --Delirium 23:45, Oct 24, 2004 (UTC)

Basically, what you are saying, DaleeriuM, is that the English translator of their party's website (probably a sophomore or junior from Minsk foreign language institute, most probably some Russian speaking young student) ultimately decided for the rest of the world which form is to be used in English. Amazing. --rydel 11:04, 25 Oct 2004 (UTC)

No, I'm saying that the collective speakers of English decided which form is to be used in English, which is pretty much the only way these things are done. Mr. Lebedko himself, his party, other members of his party who give interviews, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the United States Senate, BBC News, the Associated Press, and everyone else I've come across use the name Anatoly Lebedko when speaking in English. He speaks English you know, and has granted numerous interviews in English, and this is the name he calls himself. Since absolutely nobody calls him "Lyabedzka" in English—including he himself—there's no reason for us to do so. --Delirium 14:52, Oct 26, 2004 (UTC)

OK. You are right. --rydel 19:44, 26 Oct 2004 (UTC)