Lukashenko: shackles of Polish lords went down before historical justice on September 17th, 1939

On September 17th, 1939, the shackles of the Polish lords went down before historical justice – as noted by President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko during today’s If We Are United large-scale patriotic forum dedicated to National Unity Day

The Head of State noted that during the period of occupation, all guarantees of national and cultural life within the Polish state remained only on paper, “Western Belarus did not have even the most relatively small autonomy. Belarusian culture existed in conditions of constant struggle for survival. National schools, theatres, and newspapers began to disappear. The whole nation was being destroyed; over 3,000 prisoners for political reasons became victims of inhuman repression. Those who did not want to become Polonised, talked, prayed and sang lullabies to their children in their native language were subjected to torture and imprisonment in concentration camps and prisons. On September 17th, 1939, the shackles of the Polish lords went down before historical justice.”

The Red Army’s liberation campaign enabled both families and forcibly torn territories to reunite.

At the same time, the President drew special attention to the fact that Belarusians did not sit idly by, obediently waiting for them to be released, “All this time, our ancestors held on to their roots and land, passing on the memory and history of their ancient family from generation to generation. Our language, faith and spiritual unity have not allowed us to forget who we really are. This made them stronger. Nothing could stop the Belarusians: neither the threat of the Polish lords, nor the political boundaries. Hardened in the national liberation movement, our heroic ancestors became an insurmountable shield of the Belarusian resistance on the path of fascist aggression during the Great Patriotic War, rebuilt the country from the ashes in the post-war years, overcame the chaos of the 1990s and built a sovereign and independent state. For the first time in their history, they not only built it, but also preserved it. We did it together, including those sitting in this hall.”