Gryzlov: emotional and historical context of Belarus’ National Unity Day are close to Russians

Having not learned the lessons of history, Warsaw is still tossing between the destructive impulses of national pride and the painful convulsions of national humiliation – as stated by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Belarus, Boris Gryzlov, on the occasion of National Unity Day

“On September 17th, the Republic of Belarus is celebrating a state holiday: National Unity Day. This date is timed to the anniversary of the beginning of the Red Army’s operation in 1939 to liberate Western Belarus from Polish occupation; in history, it is known as Liberation Campaign. The decision of the Soviet leadership to start it was dictated by the desire to put an end to the suffering of the Belarusian people split against their will,” Mr. Gryzlov said.

“In the controlled territory, the Polish authorities carried out a purposeful policy of forcible Polonization of the population, elimination of the people’s identity. Belarusian literature, art, printed editions, cultural and educational institutions were systematically destroyed, and valuable relics were taken out of the country. Warsaw simply did not recognise the right of the population of Western Belarus to minimal autonomy and identity, and the condescending, lord-guided name of those lands – kresy, or eastern territories – used in Poland at that time is a vivid confirmation of that. It is not surprising that, in September 1939, Belarusians met Red Army soldiers with flowers, bread and salt, and the liberation campaign became a symbol of the restoration of justice, the final elimination of foreign oppression for them.

The emotional component of this holiday and its historical context are close to us, Russians. On November 4th, our country celebrates its National Unity Day established in memory of the events of 1612. In those difficult days, citizens-in-arms led by Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky liberated Moscow from Polish interventionists who sought to seize power on Russian lands. Thousands of troops stood up to defend the Fatherland, in the ranks of which representatives of all classes, nationalities and faiths fought. In times when the country was on the verge of losing its sovereignty, they defended their native land, put an end to civil strife and thereby opened the way to the revival and further development of Russia.

Poland – which tried with its pathological greed to grab a piece of pie that it could not swallow – retreated in disgrace, and, as history shows, that was not for the first and not for the last time. Having not learned the lessons of either 1612 or 1939, Warsaw is still tossing between the destructive impulses of national pride and the painful convulsions of national humiliation.

It is quite natural that the true scale and historical significance of some events can be understood only in retrospect. This is preceded by a long process of self-knowledge and self-realisation, and ultimately – the search for truth. No one doubts now that the events of 1612 personified the moment of true unity of the peoples of Russia, based on the understanding of common responsibility for the fate of their state.

I am sure fraternal Belarus is celebrating its National Unity Day with similar feelings. We have defended our independence and sovereignty together, shoulder to shoulder for centuries. Our opponents have repeatedly tried to break this union, but friendship of the Russian and Belarusian peoples always passed this test of strength with admirable dignity. Our strength and guaranty of a peaceful and successful future lie in the loyalty to ourselves and to each other, in the unity within the country and the Union State.”