Participation in Victory Day celebration

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko traditionally participated in festive events on the occasion of Victory Day on 9 May.

In Minsk the head of state laid a wreath at the Victory Monument. His three sons were also present during the ceremony.

Wreaths and flowers from representatives of government agencies, public associations, the diplomatic corps, veterans, and the clergy were also laid at the monument. Aleksandr Lukashenko and all those present in Pobedy Square honored memory of the fallen heroes with a minute of silence.

In his speech during the wreath-laying ceremony the President noted that the farther events of the Great Patriotic War are, the more majestic and grandiose the sacrificial feat of grandfathers and great grandfathers of the current generations looks.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “As before we welcome in the victorious May, which brought freedom to Belarusians and to all the brotherly nations of our immense country of the Soviet Union in 1945. The farther heroic and tragic events of the Great Patriotic War are, the more majestic and grandiose the sacrificial feat of our grandfathers and great grandfathers – those, who saved the mankind from enslavement and extermination – looks to us.”

The head of state stressed that the war was a pivotal battle for life on Earth, for the preservation of the mankind, a Great Triumph of good over evil. 

The President said: “We bow before the heroism and resilience of the frontline soldiers, partisans, underground resistance fighters, homefront workers, who made this victory possible. You, those who fell on battlefields, those who died of wounds, dear veterans have gifted us the never fading light of the Great Victory, a guiding star that will always shine upon many generations of Belarusians and will give us strength to create, to move forward and only forward despite all the complications, hardships, and problems. It was tougher for them. Today they look at us from up high and wonder whether we will survive. We will! Belarus glorifies the heroic veterans and will always remember your deeds.”

The country also bows before the selfless labor of those, who came back to the ruins of native cities and villages in order to revive the country from the ashes, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. “We had the hardest fate of all because nobody was left in this land except for women, children, people with disabilities and exhausted soldiers, who came back from the frontlines. We ploughed and sowed the fields with the help of women and children. There were even no horses left. We will never forget that millions of our compatriots fell on battlefields, perished in death camps, were hanged, shot or tortured to death by gestapo. We remember it and if someone forgets it, we will remind them,” he stressed. “We bow low to the memory of those, who fell. We mourn the veterans who have died.”

The head of state remarked that Belarusians come to the Victory Monument every year on 9 May. They continue the tradition of meetings of frontline soldiers and partisans near the Eternal Fire and in other memorial places.

“Today you and I wonder about the same thing: could the heroes of the war even imagine that 80 years later their children and grandchildren will have to fight for the truth about the Great Victory, for the right to honor the victorious warriors on this holy day? It is unthinkable that at a time when we endeavor to preserve the memory, followers of the occupants and their hangers-on reproach us for militarism and the glorification of the war. Us, the descendants of those, who didn’t return from the war, the descendants of every third Belarusian! We have tasted this sorrow more than anyone else and always say that wars are terrible. We don’t need a war! Their rationale is obvious. As they dream of global domination, modern neocolonialists deliberately sow national discord, generate bloody conflicts on the planet, and once again try to put brown uniforms on young people. They are doing everything to make us forget about the feats of our grandfathers and about the terrible truth of the war,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.

This is why, the President stressed, they try to force upon Belarusians the flags and anthems that have been tarnished by cooperation with Hitler’s murderers instead of symbols of the Great Victory, peace, and creation.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also noted: “Today we should openly say that during the Great Patriotic War it was the first time Belarusians had faced a massive and systematic extermination of the civilian population. Blood of many thousands, millions of innocent victims – women, the elderly, and children – is on hands of the fascists, police goons, and other collaborators.”

The President stressed that the world has to know and remember the tragedy of the Belarusian nation. “And we will elevate this matter to the highest international level so that they would remember and would not forget it,” the head of state stated. “Descendants of the Nazi shouldn’t think that once the last witnesses of the genocide of the Belarusian nation and other nations are gone, the historical truth will be gone with them.”

“Dear veterans! There are not very many of you left but you should remember and as you leave us, you should pass the word to those who look at us from the heaven today: we will never betray your deeds and will not allow anyone to take your Great Victory away from us. Moreover, we will never allow anyone to desecrate everything you’ve done in your lives by protecting Europe from the brown plague,” the Belarusian leader continued.

Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that there are still people around, who were kids during the war, kids who saw with their own eyes how Hitler’s fanatics and their police goons burned their mothers, brothers and sisters, how they tortured and hanged patriots, how they slaughtered babies. “Their voices are heard today. We will preserve every one of them in documents, books, and movies. We will no longer be around but future generations will surely hear their testimony. This truth will always live!” the President stressed.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “The Great Victory is one of the most grandiose events in the history of the Belarusian nation. The deeds of our warriors are a symbol of valor, patriotism, and humaneness. An example of unity, friendship, and brotherhood of people of different convictions and faiths. An inexhaustible source of powerful creative spiritual energy that we need so much today – in the Year of People’s Unity.”

The President stressed that in order to preserve Belarus, its sovereignty and independence Belarusians need to do the simplest thing: to close ranks and stick together. “The way Soviet soldiers did during the terrible years of the war and after the war when they had to restore the Fatherland from ruins and ashes. We have to do everything to strengthen the nation’s unity so that our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren could always live and work in the beautiful, peaceful, and definitely happy country while honoring the heroic legacy of their forefathers,” the head of state said.

He also noted that Belarusians will never allow anyone to look at the country with disdain. “I understand: after the events that happened last year and after what they promise to us this year, frankly speaking, we have overstrained our society a bit. Some people may worry about peace and security too much. Some may have stopped believing in it at all. So, I would like to address those, who don’t believe. Remember: Belarus will always stand fast as long as our generation lives! We will live. We will always live in our land. And I swear to you in this sacred place that we will never allow anyone to look at our land with disdain. At the land you fought for during troubled years and the war. We will protect this land whatever the cost,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

The President also addressed those, who grew concerned due to recent events. “Don’t even think and worry about the future of your children, grandchildren, and your future. We will do everything to keep a bright sun and blue skies above our land. We will do our best to let young mothers and fathers with their kids take a walk outside the way it always has been. It will be so, I promise you. I swear it will be so!”

“And I would like those outside Belarus to hear us as well. You know who,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added.

The ceremony culminated in the performance of the Den Pobedy [Victory Day] song, which lyrics everyone has learned by heart over the years. Two huge flags – the USSR’s and the Republic of Belarus’ – were simultaneously unfurled in Pobedy Square. Hundreds of red and green balloons soared into the sky at the end of the song.

The head of state talked to veterans and heads of the diplomatic missions, who participated in the celebration.

The veterans stood up to hail the head of state although he had been insisting they did not have to. “I see you are in good health. Well done and soldier on!” Aleksandr Lukashenko said in response to the persistence of the veterans.

“And soldier on to you, too!” one of them responded.

“I have to… But we need you and we need you alive!” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

The veterans thanked the President for defending Belarus. Some of them cheerfully assured Aleksandr Lukashenko that they were ready to rejoin the ranks despite their age.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “You don’t have to worry. We are not afraid of anything. We just simply demonstrate who is who. It is difficult for us because we cannot see them. Our veterans, who are still alive and well, could at least see the face of their enemies. We sometimes don’t. The most important thing is for you to live. We need you as a pillar to rely on so that we could believe in ourselves. And, sincerely speaking, we would be ashamed not to hold on to what you’ve gifted to us.”

The President wished good health to the veterans and wondered whether they had been vaccinated against COVID-19. “You should just in case,” he advised.

The head of state also approached and greeted other participants and viewers of the event, particularly little children, who had sung as part of a choir.