29 March 2024, Friday, 12:15
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Freedom Day in Warsaw: For our freedom!

The rally devoted to the 97th anniversary of proclamation of Belarusian People's Republic was held in Warsaw.

Participants of festive event gathered near Tadeusz Kościuszko monument, and then marched along central streets of Marszałkowska, Świętokrzyska, Nowy Świat and Krakowskie Przedmieście. The demonstration ended at the monument of the poet Adam Mickiewicz. The solidarity movement Razam, civil campaign European Belarus and Belarusian House in Warsaw were organizers. They noted symbolism of the rally route. It began and ended near monuments of two famous people who united Belarusians and Poles.

The charter97.org correspondent reports about 200 people participating in the rally. During the rally, held under the flags of Belarus and the EU, the slogans "Long live Belarus!" (Жыве Беларусь!), "For your and our freedom!", "Freedom to political prisoners!" sounded. Russian and Ukrainian activists also joined the rally.

Representatives of Belarusian, Ukrainian and Russian organizations, as well as members of Sejm of Poland, had a speech before and after the rally.

Viachaslau Siuchyk, the leader of solidarity movement Razam, recalled the anniversary of another event - the execution of Kastuś Kalinoŭski, the leader of the January Uprising in 1863. He also told about history of revival of the Freedom Day.

Participants of the uprising, as well as those who declared independence in 1918, fought for the same - for freedom of our country, for it to become a normal European State. Unfortunately, most of the leaders of the Belarusian People's Republic were destroyed by Bolsheviks, some died in battles, while the rest died in the Gulag. In Soviet times, it seemed like the Belarusians forgot about both their history and their symbols. But in 1989, for the first time, a student Ales Pushkin held Freedom Day in Minsk. After it March 25 became a nationwide holiday. Now every year the Belarusians celebrate their Independence Day. Even in times of Lukashenka's dictatorship the actions devoted to the holiday are the most popular. They still show Belarusian will to fight for freedom and independence", Viachaslau Siuchyk said.

The members of the Sejm of Poland also participated in the rally. Marcin Święcicki, the member of Civic Platform party, noted that neighbouring nations participated in the rally, like Poles and Ukrainians, and supported Belarusians in their fight for freedom.

"When the USSR collapsed in 1991 Belarus became independent. Unfortunately, the freedom was not preserved. Political activists and journalists are still being repressed in Belarus. Today many people, watching Russian aggression in Ukraine, say that a powerful government is needed to preserve independence. But look at Ukraine. The war is waging in this country, eastern aggression is launched against it. Nevertheless, it has freedom and it can fight for it. Freedom is the largest guarantee of people's strength. Only free people can be organized for a fight", Marcin Święcicki said.

Peter Pyzhik, member of the Law and Justice party, congratulated the Belarusians and assured that Warsaw would continue to support democratic reforms in our country.

"Poland already assists Belarusian students with scholarships and would do everything possible to reduce the cost of visas. We will also continue supporting independent media", he said.

Uladzimir Kabets, the Co-director of Belarusian House in Warsaw, called for a moment of silence for those who died for freedom of our country. He stressed that the Belarusians still made sacrifices in the fight for independence and democracy, recalling the assassinations of opposition leaders, journalists and public figures Viktar Hanchar, Anatol Krasouski, Yuri Zakharanka, and Dzmitry Zavatski, Aleh Babenin and others.

"Today we heard that Lukashenka's regime, killed them all, acts as the guarantor of the Belarusian freedom. In fact it is not true. The regime is the only reason why we are here, but not in our homeland. From the very beginning Lukashenka has destroyed everything that is related to the independence of Belarus. This man was up like Jack from his box and seized power with help of Russian secret services and he still continues to destroy our independence. The only reason why our country can finally lose its independence is Lukashenka's and his inner circle's betrayal.

Courageous Ukrainians who today almost alone oppose Russian aggression save and our independence. We know that Russian troops are deployed in Belarus. We know about the taken decision to increase their number. In one night our country can turn out to be a part of Russia if Putin wants it. And today only the struggle of Ukrainians ties forces of this horde which for centuries has been threatening our lands.

Many our friends in the West told that democracy would come from Russia. Oh, for God's sake! It gave us nothing good. Therefore, only retaining the loyalty to Act of March 25 the Belarusians will not lose their independence and be able to reset pro-Russian occupation regime ", Uladzimir Kabets said.

Ukraine's activist Natalia Panchenko assured that Belarusians could always rely on the support and solidarity of the Ukrainians.

"All of you know what a difficult time Ukraine has recently been through. We appreciate all the assistance you have provided and still provide. We know how many Belarusians stood in the Maidan, and we know how many Belarusians now help to resist the horrible Russian aggression. We are very grateful for it. And today we are here to congratulate you with this important holiday. We can't help but be with you. Perhaps too late, only when Michail Zhizneuski gave his life for Ukraine, we realized that the Belarusians were very close people for us. I wish you were so free, so that your nation would be able to choose what country for them was better to live in. I wish the Freedom Day for your children and grandchildren was the most important holiday in their lives. Certainly, it is not easy. All countries acquired their independence by taking a difficult and very long way. I wish your way to independence was as easy as possible. And I wish that in many years, when Ukraine and Belarus are really independent, we would have a bright future and the flags of Belarus and Ukraine, as well as today, would always wave so close", Natalia Panchenko said.

Russian activist Valentina Chubarova said that many people in Russia were against Vladimir Putin's policy and supported freedom and independence of the former Soviet republics, including Belarus and Ukraine. She came to the rally with Russian flag.

"It is very important for us the symbols of our country are not to be associated with aggression and imperialism. I have always sympathized with the Belarusians of the ban of a white-red-white flag. But today sometimes I think it would be better if Putin returned the Soviet symbols. Then the white-blue-red flag belonged to us, the opposition, and it would be clear who was who. We want the tricolor to return its original meaning. It must be not a Putin's flag, but the flag of democratic Russi - Russia of 1991 year, Russia of Boris Nemtsov.

I've always participated in rallies held near the embassy of Belarus on the Freedom Day in Moscow. In 2006 many of my friends were in a tent camp in Minsk. Everything that is happening in Belarus is very important for me. We have always joked that Russia is lagging behind your country for a year and a half. All that Lukashenka is doing in Belarus, after a while reoccurs at our place. Unfortunately, Putin has recently overtaken him. Many people in the West believe Lukashenka is the lesser evil. But we must understand that they are both birds of a feather, and the struggle of Belarusians, Ukrainians and Russians against Putin is our common concern", Valentina Chubarova said.

Co-director of the Belarusian House in Warsaw Ales Zarambiuk said that sooner or later the Belarusians would celebrate Freedom Day at the state level.

"I'm sure that our country, as well as neighbouring Lithuania, will celebrate two holidays after a while. We will celebrate Freedom Day on March 25 as the anniversary of the declaration of independence. July 27 will also be a holiday. This day the Belarusians will celebrate restoration of our independence," he said.

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