Ceremony to present Spiritual Revival Awards, special prizes to art luminaries, Belarusian Sports Olympus Awards

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko took part in the ceremony to present the Spiritual Revival Awards, special prizes to art luminaries, and the Belarusian Sports Olympus Awards in Minsk on 11 January.

The head of state noted that holy Christmas days are an amazing time filled with faith, love and joy. They unite people, inspire and give hope.

"Therefore, when a quarter of a century ago we instituted the Spiritual Revival awards and special prizes, we specifically timed them to coincide with the Nativity of Christ. It is this Christian holiday that symbolizes all the best, the purest in our life, which we have had to defend for decades and centuries," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The President recalled: "When the Soviet Union collapsed, the West flooded us with the so-called democratic values based on the alien ideals, godlessness and base feelings."

According to the head of state, they promoted them under the guise of a certain haute couture and trendy culture. The purpose of that export is clear to everyone today. "They wanted to raise a generation without kith or kin, to discredit the concept of ‘patriotism’, to make us despise the heritage of our ancestors," Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

He noted that the Belarusians countered this with the Christian traditions, morality and the richest culture of the people, by providing support to people who protect and develop these values.