Warsaw’s Palace of Culture and Science will once again be illuminated in the white-red-white colours of the Belarusian national flag on 9 August. The decision was taken by Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski in response to a request from Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management Pavel Latushka.
From 6:00 p.m. until midnight on 9 August, the façade of the building will be lit in the colours of Belarus’ national flag, the United Transitional Cabinet’s press service said. The event marks the sixth anniversary of the start of the mass protests in Belarus following the 2020 presidential election.
“We would like to inform you that the Mayor has approved the illumination of the façade of the Palace of Culture and Science in the colours of a free Belarus,” the official response from Warsaw City Hall said.
Pavel Latushka thanked the mayor of Warsaw for the decision, describing it as a symbolic but important gesture of support.
“Thanks to such attention, we feel that the cause of a free Belarus remains important for Poland and for Warsaw,” he said.
“We deeply appreciate the support that Poland has provided to the Belarusian people over these six years — the darkest and most difficult period in the history of independent Belarus. At a time when Belarusians face unprecedented repression every day, with its scale showing no sign of diminishing, Poland and the Polish people have demonstrated what it means to be a true neighbour,” the politician added.
Later that day, a rally marking the sixth anniversary of the 2020 election is scheduled to take place in central Warsaw. It will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the Nicolaus Copernicus Monument. Organisers are also inviting participants to register for the New Belarus conference, which will be held in the Polish capital.
