Скриншот видео
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said that Belarus will be free and Belarusians will celebrate Freedom Day at home. She made the statement in an address marking the 108th anniversary of the proclamation of the Belarusian People’s Republic.
“Today we celebrate Freedom Day together. This is a holiday that unites each of us who cares about Belarus, regardless of where we are now: in Minsk or Hrodna, in Warsaw or Vilnius, in Kyiv, Tbilisi, Berlin, or New York. We are scattered around the world, but we have something very important that has always united us — the desire to see our country free.
On March 25, 1918, the Belarusian People’s Republic was proclaimed. At that moment, the people firmly told the whole world: Belarus has the right to its own state. It was a bold step, and it became part of our historical memory and our present internal foundation. From that day to today, we continue the path of struggle and responsibility for our country.
Belarus will be free. And the Belarusian people have not abandoned this goal: neither in 1918 nor in 2020. We did not abandon it in the most difficult years of our history, and we will not abandon it now. The path to freedom requires patience, daily work, and courage. And, unfortunately, it is often accompanied by pain, losses, and many sacrifices.
Belarusians have given their lives for our freedom at different times in our history. Belarusians continue to fight even now — some in Belarus, some in exile.
Freedom is every action we take that makes our country better. It is the work of Belarusian civic initiatives and volunteer communities. It is work in the media and support for political prisoners. It is service in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and volunteer formations in Ukraine. Each and every one of you is doing your part of this great work — with Belarus in your heart.
I know how exhausting a long road can be. How much we want things to finally become calm. To be able to work, plan our lives, love, and raise children without fear in our own country. Not to have to look over our shoulder on the street, not to fear a knock on the door, not to fear for our loved ones. For home to once again be a place of safety.
But even when it is difficult, we have something that can never be taken away from us: our history, our memory, and our strong Belarusian dignity. And we have each other.
Belarus will be free. And we will celebrate this day at home.
Happy holiday, my Belarus! Happy holiday, Belarusians! Happy Freedom Day!”