Conferment of state awards

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has presented state awards to distinguished representatives of various fields. The ceremonial event was held at the Palace of Independence ahead of the Day of People’s Unity.

The head of state noted that the Day of People’s Unity returned to the national holiday calendar five years ago. The President called the date of 17 September 1939 a crucial milestone in the formation of national statehood. “After the western lands became part of the BSSR, we became a single people with a common history, culture, and language, all of which had been banned in Western Belarus under the yoke of the Polish state. That is a fact,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“Today it is hard to imagine, but that is how it was. There were also Belarusians who did not spare their lives so that ‘we could call ourselves people’. And there were many of them,” the head of state emphasized. “We may have started celebrating the Day of People’s Unity on a large scale only recently, having been overly mindful of our western neighbor’s feelings for too long, but this date has always been in our people’s hearts. The evidence of this is nearly 200 streets, avenues, squares, and boulevards named after 17 September.”

The President noted that the holiday has taken root and become beloved, earning an honored place alongside the main holidays: Victory Day and Independence Day.

“History has more than once proved that no matter what happens, Belarusians cannot be bought, cannot be intimidated, and cannot be divided,” Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out.

The head of state thanked all those receiving awards for what they do for the country, for their hard work, talent, sleepless nights, and work without days off. “And without that, the kind of high results you have achieved simply do not happen,” he noted.

“Orders, medals, and honorary titles show that the country sees and appreciates your efforts. They are a token of gratitude from millions of compatriots and, naturally, from me personally, for peace, prosperity, a happy present, and a wonderful future. People like you are always striving for the new and the better, and through your labor you set an example of selfless service to our Fatherland,” the President emphasized.

Aleksandr Lukashenko warmly congratulated those gathered on their well-deserved awards, wishing them good health, peace, kindness, and new achievements for the good of the Motherland.

The head of state awarded the Order of Labor Glory to the open joint-stock companies Planar and Integral, as well as to Vladimir Fleito, a lathe and boring machine operator at pilot production shop No. 1 at Minsk Tractor Works.

The Order of the Fatherland, 3rd Class, was awarded to Marina Anikeyeva, director general of the Molochny Mir dairy company. The Order of Honor was bestowed upon Gennady Eismont, deputy chairman for production at Denshchikov Agricultural Production Cooperative in Grodno District, and Aleksandr Shishko, chairman of Ozery Agricultural Production Cooperative in Grodno District.

The Medal of Francysk Skaryna was awarded to Vladimir Lelevich, head of the biochemistry department at Grodno State Medical University, and Anna Mirkos, an artist with the honored ensemble of Belarus, the National Presidential Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus.

The head of state presented the Medal for Labor Merits, special commendation letters, and badges to those who received honorary titles.