Long live Belarus

2006-07-06T06:42:00.000-07:00

Symbol confusing.

I consider you are confused a bit finding here another flag and emblem. So i"ll try to explain...

Our national symbol "Pahonia" or in English -"Chase"- is the same for Belarus and Lithuania since it comes from the days when Belarusians and Lithuanians were unified in one big commonwealth of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Rus'. It shows a horseman with a raised sword advancing on an enemy.

National Flag of Belarus
As for our national flag I've heard a following story: During one of the battles with German knights (Grunwald) a white bandage with a stripe of a blood stain across its center was used as a victorious banner. Since that time our flag is white-red-white. But this is a legend.

The current official symbols of the Republic of Belarus enforced by Lukashenka Regime:

and

Red flag with green stripe thus reflects the world-view of that part of the Belarusian population whose flag is now hanging above the country 's administrative buildings: history beginning in 1917, the "golden age" in the Soviet past, the national symbols of the Belarusian as "signs of decline," etc. Meanwhile, the effort to meticulously regulate all expressions of social life, characteristic for Lukashenka 's regime, resulted in the use of the symbols being largely reduced. For example, it is illegal to use them in the emblems of non-governmental organisations and the manufacture of state emblems is subject to licensing — at a costly rate. The above mentioned presidential resolutions even introduce a list of officials who have the right to display the symbols in their offices. As a consequence, these symbols are used "informally" (that is, voluntarily and outside the office) only during events held by Soviet veterans of Worid War II or Communists. Even at such events, one is more likely to see the flag of the USSR and the original BSSR flag than the Lukashenka-modified replicas.

So belarusian society is deeply split. Less than a decade after the establishment of an independent Republic of Belarus, one part of society is so radically separated from the other that if a casual observer were to overhear conversations and read articles by the two groups, it could be concluded that they live in different worlds. Of the parameters that identify a nation, place of residence is the only thing these two groups have in common. They differ by language, their historical memory, identity (despite the fact that both call themselves Belarusians, the meaning is completely different), relations with other nations (dose and distant), their vision of the country 's future development, etc.

2006-07-06T06:12:00.000-07:00

Solidarity With Fighting Belarus

Hundreds thousands of people in Belarus and all over the world for the 9th time have marked the Day of Belarusian Solidarity on June 16. Belarusians lit candles of Freedom and Solidarity with political prisoners, families of political prisoners, with all who fight for freedom and democracy in Belarus. They gathered I the squares of their towns and cities. In Minsk more than 100 persons have come to the Russian Embassy, in order to express protest to Russia’s support to Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s regime. The rally was brutally cracked down on. 45 participants were arrested. Dwellers of Brest, Mahilyou, Maladzechna, Zhodzina, Baranavichy, Vitsebsk, Svetlahorsk and other Belarusian cities came to the streets and lit candles of solidarity. Pickets and demonstrations were held in front of Belarusian and Russian Embassies in Ukraine, Poland, Belgium, Germany and the USA. The information about rallies held all over the world on this day is coming.

The initiative to hold Days of Solidarity started after policemen disbanded a protest rally dedicated to the memory of the abducted on September 16, 2005. On September 16, 2005 a memory of abduction of vice speaker of the Supreme Soviet of the 13th convocation Viktar Hanchar and a businessman and public leader Anatol Krasouski was marked. Protesters were also holding portraits of ex-Minister of Interior Affairs Yury Zakharanka and a journalist Dzmitry Zavadski. Policemen seized portraits of disappeared politicians and national flags from the participants. At that moment one of the Zubr leaders Mikita Sasim raised his jeans shirt as a symbol of resistance to dictatorship.

Since that time actions of solidarity are held in Belarus and worldwide on the 16th day of every month. Hundreds thousands of Belarusians and friends of our country all over the world light candles of freedom in their windows, hold street actions of solidarity, tie jeans and white-red-white ribbons on their clothes, take part in flash-mobs and Internet-actions. In churches all over the world prayer services for political prisoners, families of the disappeared, all those fighting for freedom and democracy in Belarus, are held. Not only common citizens, but heads of parliaments and governments, presidents of many countries demonstrate their solidarity with Belarus.

2006-07-06T05:42:00.000-07:00

Fight for liberty

Today we are born in a different country – a more courageous and free country. Dozens of thousands of people gathered on October Square in Minsk to participate in mass-mitting after elections.They have settle down to a course for freedom. Today we are to continue this path. The figures announced by the regime are fraudulent. Nobody is counting our votes again. Numerous violations during the election campaign and voting show that these elections cannot be recognized legitimate. The exit-poll by Russian-based Yuri Levada center show that the single democratic candidate for presidency Alyaksandr Milinkevich won more than 30% of votes. A little more than 40% voted for the dictator. A run-off must be held according to the law. Today we are to defend our choice and our right to live in a free, democratic, European country. Today is the day when our future, the future of our children and grandchildren is decided.