Opening ceremony of The Call of Polesie international ethnocultural festival

The Call of Polesie international ethnocultural festival brings all Slavs together in their common historical homeland, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during the opening ceremony of the forum in Lyaskovichi on 15 August.

Welcoming the participants of the event, the head of state described the festival as a vibrant and unique event.

The head of state noted that the Polesie region holds a special place in his heart, as it was there that he took his first steps as President. Aleksandr Lukashenko has often shared a story from one of his early Presidential visits, when he mowed the Pripyat floodplain alongside local residents. After that, the locals said, “He is one of us,” putting an end to all rumors about a breakaway Polesian republic that were brewing at the time.

“That mowing [with the Poleshuks] back in the 1990s, with a real man-to-man talk, sincere and honest, essentially shaped my Presidential credo – to speak openly, directly, face-to-face with the people and do everything for their well-being,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.

“I remember meeting with people from Lyaskovichi and the surrounding villages in the summer, knee-deep in dust. An old woman approached me on behalf of everyone and said: ‘Please, help us with bread.’ There was no bread. I immediately demanded that the military deploy military bakeries here, and that was the first bakery that produced hot bread for the Poleshuks. Today, years later, it’s hard to believe. But that is how it all began, the head of state said.

At that time, the Polesie region needed support, which led to the launch and execution of the Polesie revival program. The goals were simple and clear: create new jobs and modernize industries. Above all, the focus was to upgrade the quality of life for local Poleshuks, ensuring that the old stereotype of poor people wearing bast shoes remained strictly on the cinema screen, rather than in reality.

“A great deal has been accomplished. We have fulfilled what I once promised you. Today, we are jointly executing the second Polesie revival program. Its goal is to provide people with decent living conditions, rewarding employment, and fair wages. Only one thing is required from you: discipline, order, and hard work,” the President said. He added that the new program “will establish highly unique conditions for the Poleshuks to live and work where necessary.”

The Belarusian leader recalled that Mikhail Rusy, a native of the Polesie region, is in charge of the latest program upon his directive. “He understands what Polesie needs with his entire heart and soul,” the President said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that the Polesie region has recently transformed, becoming a hub of advanced industry, farming, and a cultural center with inexhaustible tourism potential that attracts many tourists. “You can see the changes in dozens of other communities across Brest Oblast and Gomel Oblast, alongside Lyaskovichi and Turov,” he said. “But the main thing is that we are developing our Polesie region wisely, without disrupting natural harmony, preserving the sacred, pristine beauty of these lands.”