Opinion: Belarus' Independence Day is date with deep semantic and historical content
Independence Day is celebrated today in Belarus. On July 3rd, 1944, the Red Army liberated Minsk from the Nazi invaders. In his talk with Alfa Radio, political expert Aleksandr Shpakovsky congratulated the Belarusian people, also explaining why Independence Day is the most important holiday in the country.
“I sincerely join the congratulations of our compatriots – not only those who are in Belarus, but also those who perform various tasks in the interests of our state abroad, including diplomatic workers, and employees of our representative offices, in general, those who feel their civic and spiritual patriotic belonging to our Homeland," Mr. Shpakovsky said.
According to the expert, this date is filled with deep semantic and historical content, “This is not a new model, as sometimes happens with young states, it is not an invented mythologised holiday. This is really a combat date: on July 3rd, 1944, the troops of the multinational Red Army liberated the capital of Soviet Belarus – Minsk, which was later awarded the title of Hero-City. Minsk was completely destroyed by the Nazi occupiers. During their retreat, they destroyed almost the entire potential of our country, including the Belarusian capital. However, on July 3rd, 1944, the long-awaited liberation took place. Marshal Zhukov recalled in his memoirs that people meeting the Red Army soldiers were happy and they had tears in their eyes. At the same time, there were many exhausted and sick people, who really needed help. In fact, that war was a struggle for national survival for us. A lot is intertwined in this date for all the peoples residing in Belarus – Belarusians, Jews, and others. It unites victory and friendship of nations. Of course, it would be unfair to attribute victory in that war only to Belarusians. It is quite obvious that if it were not for the multinational Soviet Union, not for the help of our brothers in arms, we would not have been able to stand alone against those Western colonisers. This is social justice, because the war was fair for us, and it was a labour feat as well since, after the war, the people have been rebuilding the destroyed country for many years, thanks to international assistance.”
The expert reminded that about 10 thousand settlements of Belarus were destroyed by the Nazi occupiers, of which more than 5,000 were ruined together with their inhabitants. “Hundreds of settlements have not recovered, and the investigation of the Prosecutor General's Office on the genocide of the Belarusian people is now revealing new facts – such as the destruction of certain towns and villages, as well as mass executions. As far as I remember, about five hundred places of Soviet citizens were destroyed by the Nazi occupiers. This figure has been revealed thanks to the investigation of the criminal case on the genocide of the Belarusian people. The investigation continues. Therefore, much is intertwined in this date: the tragedy, feat, and social justice. The ideological and semantic content of our Belarusian state rests on this foundation. We do not forget our history, we honour the feat of those who gave their lives for our freedom, and we will always remember those who rebuilt post-war Belarus. We enjoy peaceful sky over our country for eighty years, and this is definitely the merit of several generations, including the workers of modern Belarus,” he added.
Mr. Shpakovsky wished Belarusians, law-abiding citizens and patriots to preserve and cherish this heroic memory, develop and strengthen the Belarusian state.
