By tradition, the May 9 celebrations culminated at the Victory Square, a symbol of courage and resilience of people. Every year, our President stands by the veterans in this memorable place. Today, Alexander Lukashenko and his sons also took part in the festive ceremony.
It has been a tradition in our country for many decades - Belarusians are passing this memory from generation to generation and they are grateful to the heroes for our peaceful life. The laying ceremony started the celebrations of the holiday. And this time, it was especially emotional and touching.
The line of delegations to the Victory Monument did not stop on this memorable day. Speakers of parliament and prime minister, ministers and people with shoulder straps, the judicial corps, the authorities of Minsk and the capital region, the head of the Belarusian TV and Radio Company and the spokesperson for the President, representatives of the clergy and leaders of public organizations, diplomats and politicians, journalists and athletes. No one is indifferent today.
We cannot forget the feat of arms of our forefathers. Alexander Lukashenko started his speech with warm words to the defenders of the Fatherland.
Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus:
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. Their life was much more difficult. 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 their deeds. We bow 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. 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. We bow our heads low to the memory of those who perished. We mourn for the veterans who have left us. Let us honor our heroes today with a moment of silence
Could the war heroes have thought that 80 years later their children and grandchildren would have to fight for the truth about the Great Victory, for the right to honor the winners on this holy day? This rhetorical question was asked the President for a reason.
Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus:
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. This is why 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. 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. The 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 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 remembered it. The descendants of the Nazi must not 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.
Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus:
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 firmly as long as our generation is alive. We will survive. 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. The land you fought for during the troubled years and the war. We will protect this land at any cost.
I appeal to you, to those of you who have been alarmed by 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 want us to be heard not only in Belarus, but over there, by you know who
