Belarus’ patriotic forces address Polish people

An appeal to the Polish people has been adopted today at the meeting of the headquarters of the patriotic forces in Minsk following the implementation of the provisions of the declaration signed at the Forum of Patriotic Forces held on August 9th, 2022

In particular, the appeal reads,

“Our fate has developed in such a way that we live side by side. Hundreds of years of history unite the Belarusian and Polish peoples. Different events happened over this time, and there was also much grievances. Meanwhile, we would like not to be separated by the ghosts of quarrelsome magnates or figures like Pilsudski, but united by the spirit of Grunwald, when we jointly opposed real, not far-fetched threats.

We remember well that many great figures of Polish culture were born on the Belarusian land, but this does not at all give a reason to look at our territory as the notorious ‘Kresy Wschodnie’ [eastern borderlands]. Belarusians are a big, proud-hearted and independent Slavic people. We have our own glorious traditions.

Your politicians are warming up the hotbed of war with their actions and rhetoric, being captured by the frenzy of chauvinism. Let's not make our common house burn down!

You know very well that Belarusians are calm, peaceful and hardworking people by nature. At the same time, we will not tolerate any masters over us! The history of the struggle of western Belarus clearly proved that. We are proud of the names of Sergei Prytytsky, Vera Khoruzhei, Kirill Orlovsky and Maksim Tank, as well as thousands of other patriots who spared their lives to unite the Belarusian people.

This October marks the 80th anniversary of the memorable day when the 1st Polish division named after Tadeusz Kosciuszko entered the battle with Nazism, our common enemy, on the Belarusian land, near the village of Lenino, in the Mogilev Region. It wrote heroic pages in the history of the struggle against the Third Reich, whose leaders planned to carry out genocide on our lands. Let us be faithful to the memory of those fighters who became kin owing to their common Great Victory.

We hope that you, Polish brothers, will have the wisdom to refrain from sliding into armed confrontation. We’d like to believe that you will not let yourself be befuddled by aggressive propaganda. After all, any person – regardless of their nationality – wants to live peacefully and safely, in peace and friendship with their neighbours.

Meanwhile, you should know: in case of any attempt on our sacred Motherland, we are determined to protect our home and our families. History knows many examples of how Belarusians rebuffed the invasion from the West. Do not rush to experience it on your own.

We are confident that common sense will help us overcome the current difficult period in our relations. We believe the time is not far off when Belarusians and Poles will again calmly visit each other, respecting the customs of our peoples."