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"On Point"
MINSK, 26 February (BelTA) – In a new episode of the V Teme [On Point] project on BelTA’s YouTube channel, national security expert Aleksandr Tishchenko explained why Belarus has preserved the tradition of celebrating 23 February as Day of Fatherland Defenders and Armed Forces.
The tradition of this holiday spans over 100 years and traces its roots back to 1918. The holiday itself has changed its name multiple times: over the years, 23 February was celebrated as Red Army Day, and later as Soviet Army and Navy Day. After the dissolution of the USSR, the tradition of celebrating Day of Defenders of the Fatherland on 23 February was preserved in only a few post-Soviet countries. Belarus is one of them.
“I believe that we are, after all, the heirs and continuers of the Red Army’s legacy. This is an army with great and glorious combat traditions. It was this army that saved the world from Nazism in the last century,” Aleksandr Tishchenko said. “And the fact that we have preserved the tradition of celebrating 23 February indicates that we honor the memory of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers who defended this land. We still adhere to the same principles of peacefulness and the duty to defend our country.”
The expert also pointed to the fact that even People’s Unity Day, a relatively new holiday for Belarus, would not have been possible without the Red Army soldiers. He was referring to the Red Army’s liberation campaign of 1939, which resulted in the reunification of Western Belarus with the BSSR.
Aleksandr Tishchenko also commented on the role of the army in ensuring the security of sovereign Belarus. In his opinion, the Armed Forces are a fundamental attribute of statehood. “People in uniform, in general, ensure a multi-faceted security both on the external and internal fronts. This is a service that continues day and night, without stopping for a second,” the expert emphasized. “At the same time, the majority of units are on combat and operational duty. Yes, it's hard work, but it is the duty of every person in uniform to endure the rigors and hardships of military service with fortitude and courage.”
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