Sergeyenko: National Unity Day accumulating its own traditions while taking root in Belarusians’ minds
An exhibition dedicated to National Unity Day has opened in the President Administration hall, featuring a collection of posters, photos and newspapers that tell about the events of September-November 1939: the liberation campaign of the Red Army in Western Belarus, the formation of Soviet power in the liberated territories and the legislative consolidation of the reunification of Western Belarus with the Belarusian SSR. The exhibition also has information about famous public and political figures of that time: Sergei Prytytsky, Aleksandr Chervyakov, Panteleimon Ponomarenko, Maksim Tank, and others.
The project was prepared with the assistance of the National Historical Museum and a laureate of For Spiritual Revival prize, the author of the Native Land project, Vladimir Likhodedov.
The opening of the exhibition was attended by Head of the President Administration Igor Sergeyenko, Director of the National Historical Museum Aleksandr Khramoi, as well as Vladimir Likhodedov and employees of the President Administration.
Opening the exposition, Mr. Sergeyenko noted that holding of exhibitions in the President Administration hall is already a good tradition. Describing the presented photo documents, he noted that many of them arouse interest, and some are shown in this format for the first time. Speaking about the historical grounds of National Unity Day, the Head of the President Administration said, “I see that interest in our history is increasing – not only among young people, but many Belarusians in general.”
Mr. Sergeyenko added that, from 1921 to 1939, the Belarusian people were divided, and part of the republic was under Polish occupation, “Many articles of the Riga Peace Treaty, which provided for the preservation of the rights of national minorities in RzechPospolita, were violated. The Belarusian culture was oppressed, Belarusian schools were liquidated, the policy of Polonisation was carried out, and churches were taken away from Orthodox believers then, not to mention the economy which was not developing.”
The Head of the President Administration recalled that the date was for the first time solemnly celebrated in Belarus on September 17th, 1940 as Day of Liberation of Western Belarus’ Workers from Oppression of Bourgeoisie and Landlords. In 1941, the Great Patriotic War began, and the holiday was revived after its end: in the late 1940s. However, taking into account the new historical realities (the development of the Polish People's Republic, the establishment of contacts with this country), the holiday was erased from the calendar so as not to aggravate the situation on an interethnic basis. Nevertheless, the memory of the holiday has been preserved, including in the names of streets and agricultural organisations.
In Belarus, National Unity Day has already accumulated its own traditions and features over the past three years since its establishment as a state holiday. “A number of patriotic events are held throughout Belarus long before it, and new facilities are being launched. This holiday is already taking root in the public consciousness. We will continue this work so that the date occupies the same position as [the holidays of] July 3rd [Independence Day] and May 9th [Victory Day],” Mr. Sergeyenko stressed.
