Volha Nikalaichyk: We Are Descendants Of Astrozhski, Kalinouski

Belarusians will counteract to the occupants with their determination.

The preparation to the joint Belarus-Russia military exercise West-2017 is going on in Belarus at full speed. Military armoured vehicles bearing the tricolour flags arrive to the Belarusian cities, soldiers in the Russian uniform wander about the streets. Experts, interrupting each other, claim that the ordinary exercises may turn into the soft occupation of Belarus.

On July 21, the Belarusian National Congress called for holding a Warning Action to prevent the possible aggression, and scheduled it for September 8. The website Charter97.org asked civil activist and movie director Volha Nikalaichyk why it is so important to show readiness to defend own Motherland, and whom the Belarusian patriots should take as a role model.

— Yesterday, Prague commemorated the events of the year 1968, when the residents of Chekhoslovakia protested against the Soviet tanks which had entered the city. The protesters chanted “Russian Soldier, Go Home!” In the view of the upcoming Belarus-Russia West-2017 exercises we see the same posters, hear the same slogans. Why is it so important for Belarusians to give decent reaction to these “military games”?

— We came close to the line, after crossing which we will find ourselves back in the USSR, with queues in the stores, bread cards, and our country will turn into a Russian colony. Alien soldiers are in our streets today, alongside with the armoured vehicles under another country’s flag.

For some reason, Russian policemen wander around the Barysau military base, wearing vests with tricolours. "Polite people" who occupied the Crimea, who "liberated" the Donbas, who turned the once blossoming Donetsk into ruins now walk the streets of our cities. There’s one step left to the occupation. It’s not something new when such "military games" with Russia resulted in a loss of independence.

We have no other option but to take on to the Square on September 8 and hold the Warning Action, thus showing that we are ready to respond. I propose to arrange a bright performance: dress in the "military"style, wear the Berts, take our national flags and show that we are ready to defend ourselves. There will be no strangers in our land, we will come out without weapons, our determination will be our weapon.

— As you mentioned already, the Warning Action will take place on September 8. This action is aimed to coincide with the Day of the Military Glory of Belarus, when our ancestors smashed down the Moscow troops in the battle of Vorsha. What would you like to tell Belarusians, the descendants of Astrozhski, before the action?

— The historical memory if highly important: we are the descendants of Kanstantsin Astrozhski! We are the descendants of Tadeusz Kasciuszka! We are the descendants of Kastus Kalinouski! And, at the same time, we are the contemporaries of Mikhail Zhyzneuski, Ales Charkashyn, who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Ukraine from Putin’s occupation. Zhyzneuski dreamed he would return to Belarus to liberate his Motherland.

Ukrainians have risen to defend their country, are Belarusians any worse? We are the heirs of the Lithuanian gentry, who fearlessly entered into battle with any enemy. We do not have the moral right to sit on the couch and wait for someone to come out to the Square for us.

Putin will not stop, because Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine are under attack. Then there will be trenches. If we come out — maybe he will understand with his inflamed brain that the "Donetsk scenario" will not work with the Belarusians. It is much easier to go to the Square and declare our readiness to defend the Motherland than to be dragged into the bloody games of Putin's regime.