MP explained why National Unity Day is important for Belarusians
Belarus will celebrate National Unity Day on September 17th, and Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee on International Affairs Oleg Gaidukevich has explained why this holiday is gaining increasing significance from the point of view of the Belarusian statehood formation
“We used to be shy about this holiday, because we were afraid to offend our neighbours. In general, we made many mistakes after the collapse of the USSR in terms of positioning ourselves," the MP said in his talk with Alfa Radio. “Since Soviet times, it was natural not to talk badly about Bandera, since that could offend the fraternal people. Well, we must tell the truth about who burned down Belarusian villages, who ruined Khatyn to ashes. Those were collaborators, policemen, henchmen of fascists – and they were even worse than fascists. September 17th is a great holiday, and there are no grounds to be shy about it. The Soviet army then reunited Western and Eastern Belarus, freeing Belarusians from the Polish occupation, when our people were mistreated, where the first concentration camps were created. Our ancestors liberated that territory, the Belarus we now live in was formed then.”
Speaking about the significance of the holiday, Mr. Gaidukevich added, “This is the unity of our grandfathers, these are our reunited families. We will be proud of it, and we will not be shy about it. We should absolutely not care who or what of our neighbours thinks about it. After all, they do not care about our feelings when they demolish monuments, when they spit on history, mistreat and insult it, when the SS ancestors organise marches and wave their flags. We have done nothing wrong, so this holiday is gaining increasing significance for us. Our children will grow up and understand that National Unity Day is a great day. Actually, I advocate that it should become a day off, since the holiday will be then even more festive, and people will better feel its solemnity.”
